When most of us think about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, we picture a beloved holiday icon leading Santa’s sleigh through winter skies, but few realize this famous character actually originated in Chicago.

In 1939, Chicago was home to one of America’s biggest retailers – Montgomery Ward. Trying to boost interest in its toy department and compete with rival Sears, the company turned to a catalog copywriter named Robert Lewis May. May was asked to create a children’s Christmas story to hand out at Montgomery Ward stores during the holiday season.

May created a 32-page rhyming booklet about a reindeer with a glowing red nose who, at first an outcast, becomes a hero by guiding Santa’s sleigh through a foggy night. Illustrated by artist Denver Gillen, the booklet was distributed for free at hundreds of stores and immediately gained popularity with children. The story’s simple message, that what we think as flaws can sometimes be our greatest strengths, helped make Rudolph relatable and unforgettable.

Later, the book giveaways paused during World War II due to paper rationing, but were brought back in 1946 for a final year. After that year’s holiday season, Montgomery Ward gave May the copyright to his story.

With the character now in May’s hands, Rudolph’s popularity exploded. His tale was turned into a hit song in 1949 by May’s brother-in-law Johnny Marks and became a holiday staple. Then came the iconic 1964 stop-motion TV special that brought Rudolph into living rooms across America.

This holiday season, as Rudolph and his shining red nose get another chance to save Christmas, remember he is one of Chicago’s own. His story reflects a classic Christmas lesson, but also the creative spark that once drove the city’s mail-order giants.