Castrating Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

[JesusA (imported)]

Cavendish red-faced over Rudolph's manly glow

By Karyn Maughan

It isn't just his nose that has thrust Rudolph the Cavendish Square reindeer into the spotlight this year.

The plastic reindeer, a prominent part of the Claremont, Cape Town mall's Christmas decorations, caused a stir because of his golden testicles - so much so that he had to be castrated to protect shoppers' fragile sensibilities.

Following several complaints from customers, particularly parents, Cavendish Square managers decided Rudolph's equipment had to go.

They contacted Display House, the company that designed and made the decorations, and it duly unmanned the reindeer.

The company's general manager, Hein Conradie, said he had not been aware of Rudolph's no-so-private parts until being asked to castrate him.

The golden balls stared life as innocent Christmas tree baubles and were stuck to one of the four reindeer used in the Cavendish display with Prestik.

The baubles were "fairly obvious" because of Rudolph's prominent placing in the display and were "anatomically correct for an animal of that size," Conradie said. "They were about 40mm in diameter, but they weren't overly large."

Choosing festive season decorations for shopping centres could be a minefield, he said, and after 10 years he had concluded a conservative approach was best.

"Generally, we find it wiser to use sexless reindeer. Someone obviously decided to be more interesting this year."

FROM: The Cape Argus, Thursday, December 12, 2002, page 1

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id ... 5&set_id=1

[Andrew (imported)]

Very "on topic".

http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?click_id ... 5&set_id=1

[Mac (imported)]

Cavendish red-faced over Rudolph's manly glow

By Karyn Maughan

...

The plastic reindeer, a prominent part of the Claremont, Cape Town mall's Christmas decorations, caused a stir because of his golden testicles - so much so that he had to be castrated to protect shoppers' fragile sensibilities.

...

FROM: The Cape Argus, Thursday, December 12, 2002, page 1

Wow! Even the innocent animals have to be void of male genitalia to keep from offending the women. I can't imagine the commotion that would have resulted if he also had a penis.