The government permit issued for Santa’s reindeer to cross into Canada this year suggests St Nick has taken a position on an ages-old Christmas controversy.
Each December, the Northwest Territories government publishes a permit – reindeer transport permits are a real thing – listing the animals Santa is cleared to bring into the territory en route from the North Pole to the rest of Canada and beyond.
In 2022, the permit named Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph as the affected reindeer. In other words, a classic lineup.
In 2023, the same lineup was permitted with the addition of backup reindeer Robbie, Ol’ Jingle and Olive (the other reindeer).
This year, controversy arises.
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On the 2024 permit, made public by the NWT government on Friday, Santa has submitted a reindeer named McClane for inclusion.
The name and presence of the reindeer suggests Santa is of the opinion that Die Hard – in which Bruce Willis plays John McClane – is a Christmas movie.
The news will come as a shock to tens of millions worldwide who maintain, in the face of a wall of evidence to the contrary, that Die Hard is not a festive classic.
In approving McClane’s inclusion, the territorial government also appeared to take sides on the highly sensitive matter.
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A request for comment sent to the North Pole, which can only be contacted by postal service, was not returned. Canada Post has said Santa is not writing back to incoming mail this year.
McClane is among the alternate reindeer named for this year’s flight, so it’s possible that Christmas 2024 could yet pass without the reindeer’s direct inclusion in proceedings.
Other reindeer on the bench this year according to the permit include Eddie and Sparky. Hot Frosty, named on the permit as an observer, has a Yellowknife connection.
