A Very Merry Mix-up: What are Penguins Doing at the North Pole?
It’s that time of year again. The holidays are over, cheer giving way to the mid-winter blues. In my house, however, the Christmas lights still glow, because I’m a horrible procrastinator when it comes to packing up my decorations. And can you blame me? Shiny garlands, shimmering baubles, and penguins, penguins everywhere! But wait a second, why are penguins so prominent at Christmastime, anyway? Everyone knows penguins live at the South Pole.
Well, that’s not quite right either, is it? Of the 18 recognized penguin species, only two of them live permanently in Antarctica. The others can be found throughout the Southern Hemisphere, including such warm locales as South Africa and the Galapagos Island! So if this is true, then why do we associate Christmas with penguins?
Santa’s Little Helper
Some might tell you that Christmas penguins are a recent thing, spurred on by the lovable birds’ popularity in films and a certain cola brand that we’ll talk about soon. However, older readers or fans of classic stop-action animation might remember a 1970 TV special called Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, in which the titular character befriends a wayward penguin named Topper. (Even Mr. Claus remarks that it’s odd to see a penguin at the North Pole). Online markets such as eBay advertise “vintage” penguin goods for sale, though many provide no dates, so it’s hard to ascertain when Christmas penguins really took hold.
Prang, Louis. “Christmas Greeting Card – Polar Bear and Penguins.”
Unlikely Companions
Of course, penguins aren’t the only Artic animal to come out of hibernation for Christmas. In 1993, polar bears splashed onto the holiday scene in a now-famous advert for Coca-Cola. In 2005 the drink brand added penguins into the mix, and some say this polar mix-up has been popping up ever since. However, I managed to find a Christmas card featuring these anachronistic creatures which dates back to 1879! Clearly there is some appeal to pairing polar bears and penguins.
Despite their existence on opposite poles, penguins and polar bears share a lot of similarities that make them perfect bookends. They both live in cold, snowy climates (at least, the Antarctic penguins do). They both have adorable offspring. And they both look cute wrapped in a scarf and beanie. Beyond the surface level aesthetics, polar bears and penguins are also both at threat from extinction. Perhaps by juxtaposing these two animals we are reflecting on our own impact on the planet.
Their origins as a holiday icon may be murky, but it seems like Christmas penguins are here to stay. These days you can find an array of tuxedoed birds every time the winter holidays roll around, from Christmas sweaters and cookie cutters to giant inflatable lawn decorations. Do you have any holiday penguins? Tell us about them in the comments!
Originally posted on the Penguins International blog
Penguins – British Antarctic Survey. (2020, November 4). British Antarctic Survey. https://www.bas.ac.uk/about/antarctica/wildlife/penguins/.
Prang, L. (1879). Christmas Greeting Card – Polar Bear and Penguins [Illustration]. Germanisches National Museum. http://objektkatalog.gnm.de/objekt/HB16495.