“Le p’tit renne au nez rouge” — Jacques Larue’s translation of Johnny Marks’ “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” — reveals the real reason Rudolph’s nose was so red. Contrary to the 1964 Rankin-Bass TV special, its glow was not caused by an incandescent bulb. The last four lines (above) tell us:
His little nose made everybody laugh.
Everyone mocked him.
Some went as far as to say
That he liked to have a little drink.
Yes, that’s right. Rudolph was out tippling. So. Now you know.
Joyeux Noel.
Translation courtesy of Linda Nel. Commentary and BuzzFeed-esque title provided by yours truly.
Philip Nel
Philip Nel is Professor of English and Director of Kansas State University’s Program in Children’s Literature. His most recent books are Keywords for Children’s Literature 2nd edition (2021, co-edited with Lissa Paul and Nina Christensen), Was the Cat in the Hat Black?: The Hidden Racism of Children's Literature and the Need for Diverse Books (2017), Crockett Johnson and Ruth Krauss: How an Unlikely Couple Found Love, Dodged the FBI, and Transformed Children's Literature (2012), Tales for Little Rebels (2008, co-edited with Julia Mickenberg), The Annotated Cat (2007), and four volumes of Crockett Johnson's comic strip Barnaby (2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, all co-edited with Eric Reynolds).
Hehe, and it’s also what makes him ‘cute’ (ONE WEIRD TRICK! PLASTIC SURGEONS HATE HIM!). Never too early to spread the good word in France, start as you mean to continue… (or is this Switzerland? they’re not bad drinkers either…) Merry Christmas Philip!
Joyeux Noel, Clementine!
Greetings from Switzerland! (YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!)
My brother-in-law (who is Swiss) suspects that the book’s origin may be French Canadian, but the publishing company — well, the one that has the rights over here, at least — is based in France. One reason that it may be French Canadian is that a fair few of the songs are (so I understand) North American, and not as well-known in Europe. (CANADIAN RUDOLPH WILL BLOW YOUR MIND!)