15 Inspiring Christmas Animals To Rock & Deck The Halls With

a cute dog with a red hat is sleeping with its fridend

Photo by Wallpaperaccess

It’s finally Christmas and jolly festivities are just around the corner! What better way to make the holidays more festive than with animals that are symbols of love, good cheer, and more in the Christmas season?

We rounded up the most Christmassy Christmas animals in this quick list. Get to know them better as you read & deck the halls with their trendy decor this year.

Festive Animals In The Night Before Christmas Poem

Did you know the critter Mickey was inspired by has a starring role on Christmas night? And don’t forget the reindeer! Check out these two animals from the famous poem, “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement Moore.

#1 Mouse

cartoon christmas mouses

Photo by Designbundles

A mouse was mentioned in the opening lines of the poem. Although our furry little friend was simply silent, its silence was a big help in keeping Santa’s coming visit a secret! These creatures’ small size and looks easily fit the whimsical feels of Christmas.

#2 Reindeer

a gray reindeer standing on snow

Photo by Jérémy Stenuit on Unsplash

“When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer” goes the story as the man heard a clatter and woke from his sleep. What a surprise it must have been to see the famous Santa and the reindeer on his front lawn that night!

These delightful baby reindeer puppets are a realistic recreation of the reindeer crew who led Santa’s sleigh on that whimsical December night. Not to mention Rudolph too!

two brown baby reindeers on the grass 1

Photo by Only Dinosaurs

Christmas Wildlife On Ice

Plenty of fuzzy animals enjoy the cold all throughout the year. It’s simply their habitat. Here are three critters who love Arctic-like climates and adorn our Christmas cards every year!

#3 Polar Bears

a white bear on ice with its paw raised

Photo by Hans-Jurgen Mager on Unsplash

What do polar bears have to do with Christmas? Well, they’re popular because of their cuddly looks and snow-colored fur. These Christmas animals remind one of a cozy holiday winter just like this snuggly baby polar bear puppet.

a man is holding a white polar bead puppet with a tree in the background 2

Photo by Only Dinosaurs

They live in the wintry Arctic near the North Pole. You can see them in countries nearer the north like Alaska, Greenland, Norway, and Canada.

#4 Penguins

three Emperor penguins playing with a baby seal

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

Who can resist their own Happy Feet on Christmas like this delightful family of penguin models? We sure can’t! These playful birds are commonly printed on cards and gift wrappers not because they’re Santa’s little helper but simply because they’re associated with winter.

several animatronic penguins on the ground

Photo by Only Dinosaurs

Here’s a fun fact: Penguins live in their own winter wonderland in the South Pole. Emperor Penguins like the one in the movie “Happy Feet” don’t live in the North. These birds live in places near the South Pole like Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands.

#5 Moose

a brown moose eating snow

Photo by Ivars Krutainis on Unsplash

The moose is a holiday hit mostly because it lives in cold climates associated with the holidays. While for some, the moose looks like an adorably goofy substitute for the classic reindeer. You can find this animal in countries with cold weather like Canada, the U.S., Norway, and Sweden.

Christmas Creatures Around The World

Let’s take a global trip and discover the different animals associated with Christmas. Let’s see how they rock the December festivities around the world. Here we go!

#6 Kangaroo

christmas around the world - a kangaroo lying on the grass

Photo by angello from Pexels

Which animals pull Santa’s sleigh in Australia? Kangaroos of course! Kangaroos’ association with Christmas was made popular by Russell Coight’s “Six White Boomers“. It’s a fun song from the 1960s that’s about Santa bringing presents with the help of six kangaroos

#7 Donkey

christmas around the world - two donkeys standing on the grass

Photo by Ansgar Scheffold on Unsplash

Traveling to the Middle East in a little Palestine town called Bethlehem we find the donkey. It’s because of Jesus’ birth more than 2,000 years ago that this humble animal became related to Christmas and the nativity scene.

No mention of a donkey was mentioned in the Bible when Mary traveled to Bethlehem. Though the Bible didn’t mention it, the donkey may have been the animal that she rode as was common back then.

#8 Camels

christmas around the world - three camels with rugs

Photo by Jeremy Bezanger on Unsplash

Here’s another unique animal associated with Christmas — camels. Stories about the three wise men who visited Jesus are often depicted riding on camels because it’s perceived as the common way to commute in ancient days.

It’s because of this perception that they’re often part of the nativity scene too. They’re believed to have arrived carrying the gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh that the wise men gave to the newborn babe.

#9 Goats

christmas around the world - goats standing on tree branches

Photo by Jochen Gabrisch on Unsplash

This furry animal’s holiday roots go back to ancient Scandinavia in a festival called the Yule. Fast forward to today, the goat is used during Christmas through straw ornaments hung on a tree or presented as a large display in towns.

#10 Roosters

christmas around the world - a rooster on the grass

Photo by Ricardo Porto on Unsplash

Animals often represent an event just like the rooster. The Spanish mass called “Misa de Gallo” literally means “Rooster’s Mass”. It came from the idea of celebrating mass at the dawn of Christmas day as it’s believed that a rooster crowed upon Jesus’ birth.

Animals Traditionally Associated With Christmas

Christmas carols, songs, and even stories of yore – here are traditional yuletide creatures you can’t miss out rediscovering this year!

#11 Turtle Doves

two brown birds perched on a branch

Photo by Bruno Oliveira on Unsplash

Turtle doves represent faithfulness and devoted love. These are probably inspired by the way these birds form strong bonds with their mates and raise their families.

And that’s why they’re popular during Christmas, it reminds us of the love we share with those we hold dear. Additionally, turtle doves are part of the song “The 12 Days of Christmas” lending to its name recall during the holidays.

#12 Partridge

a brown bird on the grass

Photo by Magda Ehlers from Pexels

The partridge became a symbol of Christmas because of the song, “The 12 Days of Christmas”. It’s the first thing the singer’s true love sent, a partridge in a pear tree to match!

The partridge’s meaning in the song is still up for debate and how it lives in a pear tree is already debunked. But what matters most is giving meaningful gifts to your true love this season.

#13 Robins

an orange robin sitting on a tree

Photo by Biel Morro on Unsplash

Robins are one of the cherished Christmas symbols in the United Kingdom. There are plenty of reasons why. Some of them are the robin’s festive red color and postmen wearing the same red hue while delivering Christmas cards from loved ones.

#14 Turkey

a large black bird walking on the grass

Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash

What’s your favorite food during festivities? Some of the many places that commonly celebrate with turkey on the table are the U.S., Britain, and France. This animal is often part of a family’s menu during Christmas aside from Thanksgiving.

#15 Sheep

sheep standing on brown grass during sunset

Photo by Lucas BAUD-GRASSET on Unsplash

Sheep are symbols of gentleness that are often part of the nativity scene. They’re associated with Christmas because of Jesus whose birth is celebrated by many as the reason for the season. He is considered in Christianity as “the lamb who takes away the sins of the world”.

Holidays Made More Meaningful With Christmas Animals

a gray dog beside red presents

Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash

There’s more to animals than meets the eye. They’re representations of things we value and relationships we cherish.

Plus, they’re warm and cuddly!  Who wouldn’t love having adorable reindeer around or even just Christmas decorations of them?

We hope you have a celebration that’s merry, bright, and meaningful with your favorite fuzzy creatures and your family this year!

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This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Dinozavri

    I would add a donkey and a cow – from the nativity scene.

    1. Chloe Wang

      Haha.

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