A Blinkie Pin Shines Bright Just Like Rudolph's Red Nose

You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer… but do you know why Rudolph’s nose blinks red like a blinkie pin?  Although many have heard the song or watched the movie, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’s history is probably different than you imagined.

The Beginning of Rudolph

In 1939, Montgomery Ward, a Chicago retailer, was looking to design a Christmas-themed coloring book for a holiday promotion.  Although they had traditionally purchased pre-made coloring books, they decided it would be cheaper to develop the book in-house.  The design assignment fell to Robert May.  Unfortunately, thanks to the effects of the Great Depression and his wife having cancer, May struggled to come up with much holiday cheer.  Instead he came up with the idea of a misfit reindeer with a glowing nose.  After debating between several names— such as Rollo, Rodney, and Reginald—Rudolph was chosen and the red-nosed reindeer was born.

Rudolph Gains Popularity

That Christmas season, children snatched up nearly 2.4 million copies of the Rudolph story.  And although the outbreak of World War II would put Rudolph on hiatus the next year, it came back just as popular in 1946.  With the ever growing demand for the little reindeer, May decided to turn his story into a song. And when Gene Autry agreed to sing the song, “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” quickly blew up the charts.  Still riding on the wave of popularity, Rudolph then became a holiday classic film, which today remains the longest running Christmas special in television history.Although Rudolph started out as a misfit, he eventually brightened Santa’s way, as well as our holidays, with his shining nose.  If you’re looking for another way to brighten those around you, let PinProsPlus make you a unique blinkie pin.  With blinking lights and colorful artwork, a blinkie pin is sure to spread holiday cheer.  Who knows, they might even help you save Christmas!