You know Dasher and Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen— and, of course, Rudolph—but do you recall that not-so-famous reindeer by the name of Brian? You’ve probably never heard of him. That’s because ol’ Brian the Reindeer didn’t make the cut. You see, those reindeer games at the North Pole aren’t all fun and games... They are for rank and position. There are nine spots to fill, after all.

Pulling a sleigh is a tough job—gotta meet deadlines, be fast and precise. Those presents aren’t going to deliver themselves! But not all reindeer are fit for the job. Unfortunately, those who don’t make the cut must be dealt with. The winners are part of Santa’s prized steed of reindeer, leading his sleigh into the night and delivering gifts to all the girls and boys. The losers are not so lucky, though they do have a role to fill. The losers, like Brian, are processed into Reindeer Jerky…

So enjoy some dehydrated “Brian” and his friends this holiday season, and think about the losers of those reindeer games as you sing that old Christmas classic. You may not recall Brian as the most famous—but he sure is the tastiest of them all.