Plastic reindeer has "testicles" removed after complaints

A plastic reindeer complete with Christmas tree baubles for testicles has had them removed because of shoppers' complaints.

The reindeer with the golden testicles is a prominent part of a display at a shopping centre in Claremont, Cape Town.

But following several complaints from customers, particularly parents, managers decided Rudolph's testicles had to go.

The general manager of the company which designed the display, Hein Conradie, said he hadn't been aware of the problem until being asked to castrate him.

The golden balls started life as innocent Christmas tree baubles and were stuck to one of the four reindeer used in the display, reports The Independent.

Mr Conradie, of the Display House design company, said the baubles were "fairly obvious" because of Rudolph's prominent placing in the display, and were "anatomically correct for an animal of that size."

Does this mean Rudolph will have to skip the reindeer games this year?

Will the other reindeer be laughing even harder and calling him new names this year?

Can having a "nose so bright" compensate for the loss of one's manhood (or reindeerhood, as the case may be)?

Has PETA heard about this?

Poor Rudolph! To have golden testicles, and then lose them!

He's probably a bit more cut out for public display now

Does this mean Rudolph's Nose isn't going to Glow now????? Now for sure all of the other Reindeer will laugh and call him names! Oh the shame! Hope he is recovered enough to guide the sleigh on the 24th!
Oh Christmas will never be the same after that news! PF

Even though I can understand why someone (some people) would want Rudy to be anatomically correct, I feel it is inappropriate for a display meant for children. Little ones don't usually think of making sure that the animals in Christmas displays are anatomically correct. Christmas is about innocence and the magic of childhood wonder.

I guess poor Rudy is singing soprano now. Poor guy, the other reindeer were just jealous.

Someone sent the following to me.

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According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring.

Therefore, according to every historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, every single one of them -- from Rudolph to Blitzen -- had to be a girl.

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Perhaps it is just as well they removed the testicles

Thanks for posting this, Sue! I kinda thought I remembered reading this. So poor Rudy really wasn't anatomically correct, after all!

In reply to:

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So poor Rudy wasn't anatomically correct, after all!

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Nope! But now she is.

I had heard something about female reindeer being the ones who kept their antlers during the winter, but at the time I didn't think much of it. I certainly didn't connect the thought to Santa's reindeer all supposedly being male, yet having antlers.

It seems probable that the female reindeer are 'with fawn' then I suppose ...and they have to pull Santa's sleigh in their condition?!

Oh boy, you guys are just going to have to go with me on this one. Isn't it possible that a man who can make ordinary reindeer fly could also make male reindeer keep their antlers? I think a few reindeer are boys, who names a girl Rudolph or Blitzen? Ok, I'll give you Vixen and Cupid, possibly even Comet. But, some of them are fellas.

All right, that's my theory. Tell me I'm nuts if you want (Oh, that was a really bad pun).

Maybe have to change Rudolph's name to Rudolphena and Blitzen's to Blitzena.