Guides ยท Christmas Eve
Reindeer food: bird-safe, no glitter.
Scattering reindeer food on the lawn on Christmas Eve is a lovely ritual, but the glitter in a lot of recipes ends up in the soil and in the birds. This version is just oats and seeds, so whatever the reindeer leave, the birds can finish.
Free to print
Four labels a page, with our poem. Cut along the dotted lines.
Download the reindeer food labels (A4 PDF)You'll need
- 2 tablespoons of porridge oats (rolled oats)
- 1 tablespoon of wild bird seed
- Optional: a few unsalted sunflower hearts, or a teaspoon of grated carrot for colour
- A small bag, jar or envelope, and a label
Make it
- Mix the oats and seeds in a bowl. Little ones can do all the stirring.
- Spoon it into the bag and tie it with ribbon or string.
- Add a label (print ours) and keep it somewhere safe until Christmas Eve.
- Before bed on Christmas Eve, read the poem and scatter it on the grass, a doorstep or a windowsill.
Keep it safe
- No glitter, sequins or sugar sprinkles: they don't break down and wildlife eats them.
- No raisins, sultanas or chocolate if you have a dog: they're poisonous to dogs.
- Don't use salted nuts or seeds.
The poem
Scatter me on the grass tonight, / beneath the moon so round and bright. / The reindeer smell the oats and seeds, / and land just where the sleigh needs!
Reindeer food is in Santa's Christmas Eve Box too, ready-bagged, with his magic key, a letter from Santa and a Nice List certificate. On the night itself, Santa can ring from the sleigh: the Christmas Eve call.
Talk with Santa is a phone call from Santa for children across the UK. Santa is an AI voice, made in Lancashire by PixelArc Ventures. He never asks for a surname or address, and never promises presents.