I was told today that Santa wears red and white because Coca Cola started using Santa in their advertising years ago and red and white are Coca Cola's trademark colors. Any truth to this?
2006-11-28 21:18:52 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Santa Claus is a variation of a Dutch folk tale based on the historical figure Saint Nicholas, a bishop from Myra in Asia Minor (the greater part of modern-day Turkey), who used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. His charity became legend when a man lost his fortune and found himself incapable of supporting his three daughters, who would not be able to find husbands as they lacked dowries. This man was going to give them over to a life of prostitution; however, St Nicholas provided them with gold and cookies, enabling them to retain their virginal virtues and marry.
This inspired the mythical figure of Sinterklaas, the subject of a major celebration in the Netherlands and Belgium, Germany (where his alleged date of death, December 6, is celebrated the evening before on December 5), which in turn inspired both the myth and the name of Santa Claus. "Santa Claus" is actually a mispronunciation of the Dutch word "Sinterklaas" by the English settlers of New Amsterdam (later renamed New York). Whilst in those countries Saint Nicholas is celebrated as a distinct character with a religious touch separate from Christmas, Santa Claus is also making inroads as a symbol during the Christmas season.
Santa Claus is traditionally represented in a red cloak with white fur trimmings, a reference to St Nicholas, who reputably performed his charitable acts dressed in his red bishop's robes.
2006-11-28 23:54:57 · answer #1 · answered by Me and Cleo 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Why Does Santa Wear Red
2016-10-07 05:18:15 · answer #2 · answered by girst 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Does anyone know why Santa wears red and white?
I was told today that Santa wears red and white because Coca Cola started using Santa in their advertising years ago and red and white are Coca Cola's trademark colors. Any truth to this?
2015-08-19 12:41:01 · answer #3 · answered by Leona 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Prior to the Coca Cola campaign, Santa's clothes could be any colour, as most of the answers demonstrate. Red, blue, green were all equally popular, and the explanations for those colours given by other respondents are more or less accurate. It was the Coca Cola campaign that "set" the colours at red and white for everyone.
2006-11-29 03:53:04 · answer #4 · answered by Lady G 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"A serious answer here:
As the World Book tells me, there was once a bishop named Nicholas who lived in Turkey. Not much is known about him, but he was said to be very kind to children in need. After he died, the church made him the saint of children. Why does St. Nicholas, or Santa Claus, wear red and white? Because that's what Catholic bishops wear!
Ministers at the time of Nicholas wore a uniform too. They wore a long red coat to remind people that the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin. The stole around the collar was a symbol of the yoke of Jesus, a simple reminder we are all his servants. The hat wasn't a stocking cap, but a miter symbolizing the helmet of salvation."
2006-11-28 23:51:23 · answer #5 · answered by hrcollector70 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah thats exactly it!see you had the answer yourself!Santa is older than coke but was orignally portrayed as wearing green. Then the advertising campaign by Coke using santa had an unbelievable impact to the point that he is considered to wear red and white now! The power of advertising eh?!
2006-11-28 22:41:31 · answer #6 · answered by established1922 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think Santa is associated to Christ. (No offence if it isn't)
I read somewhere that the first "Santa" was a guy called St. Nicholas,and he was a priest.In those days the colour priests wore was red,and he had a white beard or something.
The name Santa translates to something.
He got that name because he threw a bag of gold coins through someone's window,if I'm not wrong.
2006-11-28 22:34:21 · answer #7 · answered by Girl3000 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
yes there is some truth in what you say-santa claus is part of dutch folklore and his suit was originally green and white. coca cola used claus in an advertising campaign in the 1930's (i beleive) and changed his colours to red and white for the campaign-this has been perceived ever since as being santa's colours in the western world at any rate.
2006-11-28 22:44:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think Santa is older than Coke.
2006-11-28 21:21:01 · answer #9 · answered by tumbleweed1954 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Think about it, santa wears red and comes down the chimney, a place of fire. Rearrange the letters in his name what do you get? S-A-N-T-A or
S-A-T-A-N. Mua ha ha ha ha ha!!!
2006-11-30 16:09:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋