The 12 Animals of Christmas from Around the World

In December, Christmas is celebrated around the world. The holiday means different things for different cultures. Despite these differences, we can all share the joy of the season. There are a variety of animals we associate with the most wonderful time of the year. During the winter holidays, these animals are on TV, in songs, in the movies, on holiday cards, and on decorations. Keep reading to learn more about 12 feathered or furry animals of Christmas from around the world.

#12. Penguins

Penguins are a common sight during the holidays. The truth is, we only tie the cute, flightless bird to Christmas because we often see images of them in cold climates. However, species like the Galapagos penguin and the Humboldt penguin actually live in warm climates.

We also link penguins and Christmas because of the North Pole. Yet, with the exception of the Galapagos penguin, all penguin species live in the Southern Hemisphere. Penguins that are adapted for the cold, such as Adélie and emperor penguins, actually reside in the icy environment of Antarctica, which is where the South Pole is located.

#11. Robins

European robins are plump little woodland birds with bright, orange-red colored feathers on their breasts. They are found all across Europe and in parts of Asia and Africa. European robins can be seen, and heard, throughout the year. Robins are one of the few birds that sing all year, with the exception of when they’re molting.

In Victorian England, Royal Mail postmen earned the nickname “robin” for their bright red uniforms. These “robins” delivered Christmas cards, which became popular in the late 19th century. Artists often illustrated Christmas cards with images of sending and receiving mail. So they began to depict images of red-breasted birds to represent the postmen delivering mail during the holidays. It wasn’t long before robins were routinely found on Christmas cards, wrapping paper, and decorations.

#10. Camels

One famous Christmas symbol is the three kings riding camels across the desert as they followed the star to Bethlehem. Yet, the Bible makes no specific mention of camels in the Christmas story. It recounts the wise magi bringing gifts to the baby Jesus, but not how they made the trip. However, archaeologists believe camels were domesticated in that part of the world as early as the 9th century BCE.

Camels are well-adapted to life in the desert. They have two rows of eyelashes, a third eyelid, and bushy eyebrows to protect their eyes from the sand and sun. Camels can also close their nostrils to keep sand out. They store fat in their humps and water in their red blood cells, so they can go long periods without food or water. Their wide, padded feet help distribute their weight on the sand and keep their feet cool. Camels also have shaggy fur to stay warm in the cold weather, but they also can shed the fur to cool off in warm weather.

#9. Turkeys

Until the 16th century, the golden bird for Christmas dinner was actually a goose. Although American culture most often associates turkey with Thanksgiving, it is also popular at Christmas. It is said that Henry VIII was the first to make turkey fashionable for the holiday feast. However, many credit the tradition with Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, which features turkey as a symbol of plenty.

Turkeys are ground-dwelling birds native to North America. They can be found across most of the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains. Wild turkeys are foragers, so they feed on grass, leaves, worms, insects, seeds, lizards, and frogs. Although wild turkeys rarely fly very far, they are fast, reaching speeds over 50mph.

#8. Polar Bears

Polar bears, like penguins, have become symbols of the winter holiday only because of their association with ice and snow. However, unlike the penguin, polar bears are found near the North Pole. Most polar bears live north of the Arctic Circle in Alaska, Canada, Russia, Norway, and Greenland.

Polar bears are the largest species of bear in the world. Male polar bears can reach up to nine feet long and weigh as much as 1,300 pounds. They are considered marine mammals, as they depend on the sea ice for hunting, sleeping, traveling, and mating. Polar bears have several adaptations that help them live in the cold. They have black skin that helps them absorb heat, while their thick, white coats repel water. Polar bears also have webbed paws that help them propel themselves through the icy water.

#7. Partridges

Thanks to that repetitive verse in the holiday classic, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” partridges are one of Christmas’s most well-known birds. However, the song lyrics are incorrect — partridges aren’t found in pear trees. Partridges are ground-dwelling birds that don’t roost in trees at all. They are relatives of the pheasant and other traditional game birds native to the U.K.

So, where did “a partridge in a pear tree” come from? The origins of the song are unclear, but one of the theories is that the lyrics were religious symbols, with the partridge referring to Jesus. However, others suggest it was an incorrect translation from the original French. It is possible that “une perdrix,” which means “a partridge,” could be mistaken for “a pear tree” when sung quickly.

#6. Turtle Doves

The European turtle dove has been an icon in art and music for hundreds of years. They are known to mate for life. Thus, they have been used as symbols of true love and devotion in various works, from religious texts to Shakespeare. Also the infamous song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” of course.

Turtle doves are small, pinkish grey birds with black and brown patterned wings. They can be found throughout Europe and the Middle East. Their diet is crop grains and wildflower seeds left on the ground. They roost and nest near feeding spots, usually around open woodlands, scrub, and hedgerows.

#5. Sheep

You won’t find a Nativity scene without a sheep somewhere in the vicinity. The shepherds in the fields followed the star to the stable, so surely the sheep made the trek, as well. Sheep are also symbolic of the Christian faith, as Jesus is often referred to as the “Lamb of God.”

Sheep are mostly docile and defenseless, famous for their gentleness. They share a family with cattle, antelopes, goats, and muskoxen — all mammals with cloven hooves. Many sheep also have curling horns, and all of them are covered in some type of wool. Sheep are among the first domesticated animals, estimated to have taken place in Mesopotamia around 10,000 BCE.

#4. Donkeys

There’s no mention of how Mary made the journey to Bethlehem. However, popular wisdom suggests it was most likely on the back of a donkey. Donkeys are also depicted in manger scenes, which reinforces the idea. These pack animals were the usual transport for the poor, while camels were for the elite like the three kings of legend.

Donkeys are domestic asses that belong to the horse family. They originated from the African wild ass. They are believed to have been used as beasts of burden and pack animals since around 4,000 BCE. Researchers estimate there are between 40-50 million donkeys worldwide, most of which are working animals.

#3. Kangaroos

In Australia, the legend is kangaroos, not reindeer, pull Santa’s sleigh. As Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas takes place during the summer. So once Santa arrives in Australia, he gives his hard-working reindeer a break.

On the ground, these marsupials can reach 35 miles per hour. They also have the ability to leap 25 feet in the air. So it’s no surprise kangaroos were chosen to replace the reindeer. The idea of kangaroos pulling Santa’s sleigh was popularized in a 1960s song by Rolf Harris called, “Six White Boomers.” Boomer is slang for a male kangaroo.

#2. Dogs

The dog is believed to be the most popular pet in the world. However, where the link between dogs and Christmas came from no one knows for sure. Some have speculated the idea originated with the shepherds at the Nativity, who are sometimes portrayed as having their working dogs by their sides.

Puppies are often shown as Christmas gifts in old cartoons. Plus, there are more Christmas movies centered around dogs than you can shake a tail at. Families also love putting their pooches in festive outfits and including them in the holiday photos. If they have a social temperament, pups thrive on the fun and chaos of Christmas.

#1. Reindeer

There is no animal more representative of Christmas than the trusty reindeer. The concept of reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh originated with 19th century literature. The anonymous poem “Old Santeclaus with Much Delight” from 1821 and Clement Clarke Moore’s “A Visit from St. Nicholas” from 1823 both depict Santa with his reindeer. Although Moore’s was the first to give the reindeer names and describe them as flying.

Reindeer are native to arctic, sub-arctic, tundra, and forest habitats of Siberia, Northern Europe, and North America. In the U.S. and Canada, wild reindeer are called caribou, while the more domesticated animals are referred to as reindeer. As reindeer come from cold, snowy regions of the world, this is likely how they became associated with Santa Claus.