Reindeer are common in Siberia and northern Europe, and seek out these hallucinogenic fungi, as the area's human inhabitants have also been known to do. Donald Pfister, a Harvard University biologist who studies fungi, suggests that Siberian tribesmen who ingested fly agaric may have hallucinated that the grazing reindeer were flying.

"At first glance, one thinks it's ridiculous, but it's not," said Carl Ruck, a professor of classics at Boston University. "Whoever heard of reindeer flying? I think it's becoming general knowledge that Santa is taking a 'trip' with his reindeer."

"Amongst the Siberian shamans, you have an animal spirit you can journey with in your vision quest," Ruck continued. "And reindeer are common and familiar to people in eastern Siberia."

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Is that the one where the Shaman has to eat the mushrooms then make you drink the pee?

Or is that the south american stuff?

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In before Joe Rogan

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In before Joe Rogan

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Funny story, growing up my mom had these little elves and a Santa that you'd she'd put out in a little Christmas display all in some snow made of cotton and there were red mushrooms with white dots on them that came in the set.  It's an old set, one that's been in the family for a long time apparently and I have no idea where it came from.  Some years ago I told her about this and she could believe it even after reading up on it.  I haven't seen her put them out in several years though.   Now that I think about it, she had some Christmas ornaments that had schrooms on them as well.    My mom is about as straight laced as they come.