Part of Christmas folklore.

Shortest day of the year. We stayed indoors today and did a few jobs. Enjoyed a bit more Christmas music. Plenty to choose on Spotify.

In 1821 a poem referred to Santa’s sleigh being pulled by a reindeer. An 1823 poem, “A visit from St Nicholas” cites “8 small rein-deer;” Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. And in 1949 Rudolph appeared. I recall my late mother naming them all and duly impressing us one Christmas Day (it transpired she’d written them on her hand!). Wonder which ones we have here?

Family FaceTime. Several conversations, all well. Worked out what we’re doing for Christmas 2020.

A few big political stories. Coronavirus across U.K., Brexit ...and another new vision for Scotland from Labour.