Getting back to the original question -
I find it odd that FC hasn't commented on this. I assumed -- when I saw a lack of response from FC over this thread -- it was an item which was given from the Xmas quest line, hence the silence from the AO team.
But this wasn't the case.
I know quite a few people held back from buying it (from those I've spoken to in-game about the mask), in the hope it would materialize as one of the free gifts.
Now, the festive season is over, and there's bound to be a drop in demand for a reindeer mask.
It's not the end of the world, and I don't want to bust FC's balls over it; it just seems nonsensical to not comment about a purchasable Xmas item which could have been confused with one of the free festive gifts (perhaps we're overly su****ious of FC!).