It's the most wonderful time of the year, but in case you had some doubts, nature might convince you.
The world is full of amazing and beautiful creatures, and while we see some of them everyday, others only show up every once in a blue moon.
A very lucky photographer recently got the shot of a lifetime when he captured a very rare type of reindeer while hiking the snowy mountains of northern Norway.
What sets this calf apart from the rest of Santa's sleigh pullers? He is completely white!
Mads Nordsveen, the Norwegian man behind the lens, told Caters News Agency that he was out looking for "nice landscapes for my travel photography" when the "wonderful little creature" came out of nowhere.
"Back to the cold north. Me, this white little reindeer in northern Norway. He almost disappeared into the snow!" the photographer wrote in the caption of the stunning photos on Instagram, which received more than 21,000 "likes" in less than a day.
Like other members of the deer family, reindeer tend to be shy, which is why Nordsveen was taken aback when this snow-colored animal was willing to hang around him and pose for the camera.
"He was quite relaxed when he saw that I was calm and friendly. It was almost as if he posed for the camera," Nordsveen explained to the news outlet. "He was very curious and fun. Like a little explorer."
Nordsveen was able to capture some magical shots until the calf's mother came for him. He described the experience as "very magical and a fairy-tale moment."
With Nordsveen's post going viral, people have been trying to explain why the reindeer is white, instead of the typical brown. Some were convinced that he is an albino, but the color of the calf's eyes and horns indicate otherwise.
This calf's unique look is most likely caused by a genetic mutation that affected his fur's pigmentation, which works in his favor because he can easily camouflage and blend into his snowy surroundings.
For those who are superstitious, spotting a white reindeer is considered a sign of good luck in some Scandinavian traditions, so perhaps luck will follow Nordsveen from now on. Also, since we have had the chance to see the little one's photos, maybe some of it will be passed on to us.
