2006-12-19 02:20:57 · 13 answers · asked by shlak 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
Coca-Cola® and Santa Claus
Most people can agree on what Santa Claus looks like -- jolly, with a red suit and a white beard. But he did not always look that way, and Coca-Cola® advertising actually helped shape this modern-day image of Santa.
2006 marks the 75th anniversary of the famous Coca-Cola Santa Claus. Starting in 1931, magazine ads for Coca-Cola featured St. Nick as a kind, jolly man in a red suit. Because magazines were so widely viewed, and because this image of Santa appeared for more than three decades, the image of Santa most people have today is largely based on cokes advertising.
Before the 1931 introduction of the Coca-Cola Santa Claus created by artist Haddon Sundblom, the image of Santa ranged from big to small and fat to tall. Santa even appeared as an elf and looked a bit spooky.
Through the centuries, Santa Claus has been depicted as everything from a tall gaunt man to an elf. He has worn a bishop's robe and a Norse huntsman's animal skin. The modern-day Santa Claus is a combination of a number of the stories from a variety of countries.
The Civil War cartoonist Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus for Harper's Weekly in 1862; Santa was shown as a small elf-like figure who supported the Union. Nast continued to draw Santa for 30 years and along the way changed the color of his coat from tan to the now traditional red. Though some people believe the Coca-Cola Santa wears red because that is the Coke® color, the red suit comes from Nast’s interpretation of St. Nick.
The Coca-Cola Company began its Christmas advertising in the 1920s with shopping-related ads in magazines like The Saturday Evening Post. The first Santa ads used a strict-looking Claus, in the vein of Thomas Nast.
At this time, many people thought of Coca-Cola as a drink only for warm weather. The Coca-Cola Company began a campaign to remind people that Coca-Cola was a great choice in any month. This began with the 1922 slogan "Thirst Knows No Season," and continued with a campaign connecting a true icon of winter -- Santa Claus -- with the beverage.
In 1930, artist Fred Mizen painted a department store Santa in a crowd drinking a bottle of Coke. The ad featured the world's largest soda fountain, which was located in the department store of Famous Barr Co. in St. Louis, Mo. Mizen's painting was used in print ads that Christmas season, appearing in The Saturday Evening Post in December 1930.
1936 Coca-Cola Santa cardboard store displayArchie Lee, the D’Arcy Advertising Agency executive working with The Coca-Cola Company, wanted the next campaign to show a wholesome Santa as both realistic and symbolic. In 1931, The Coca-Cola Company commissioned Michigan-born illustrator Haddon Sundblom to develop advertising images using Santa Claus -- showing Santa himself, not a man dressed as Santa, as Mizen’s work had portrayed him.
1942 original oil painting - 'They Remembered Me'For inspiration, Sundblom turned to Clement Clark Moore's 1822 poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" (commonly called "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"). Moore's description of St. Nick led to an image of Santa that was warm, friendly, pleasantly plump and human. For the next 33 years, Sundblom painted portraits of Santa that helped to create the modern image of Santa -- an interpretation that today lives on in the minds of people of all ages, all over the world.
The first Coca-Cola Santa Claus image created by artist Haddon Sunblom appeared in 1931 in The Saturday Evening Post.From 1931 to 1964, Coca-Cola advertising showed Santa delivering (and playing!) with toys, pausing to read a letter and enjoy a Coke, playing with children who stayed up to greet him and raiding the refrigerators at a number of homes. The original oil paintings Sundblom created were adapted for Coca-Cola advertising in magazines, store displays, billboards, posters, calendars and even plush dolls. Many of those items today are popular collectibles.
2006-12-19 02:47:30 · answer #1 · answered by ag2588101 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, Coca-Cola did NOT invent Santa Claus. Our name "Santa Claus" is mispronunciation of the Dutch "Sinter Klaas" which means St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas was a good man who became bishop in Turkey in the 4th century. He is the patron saint of children and was known for giving generous gifts. Coca-Cola began an advertising campaign using Santa's picture in the 1920's. In 1931 the artist solely responsible for creating the Santa ads was Haddon Sundblom who did at least one a year for over 20 years, making the Coca-Cola/Santa ad campaigns one of the most recognized ever. Hope this answers your question. :) Elf Stacy
2016-03-29 00:14:33 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The red & white colors of modern day Santa were derived from the Coca Cola colors. It stuck as the image through today
2006-12-19 02:53:40 · answer #3 · answered by me 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Smart advertising gimmick by Coca Cola!
2006-12-19 02:24:49 · answer #4 · answered by Hamish 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, you see, this magazine made this character (which, of course was Santa) and then Coca Cola picked it up as their logo, and then it got to be the 'comin down the chimney' and all that other stuff.
2006-12-19 02:31:22 · answer #5 · answered by ET Dude 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I really see no connection here. No more than Santa and pepsi. It's all about advertising.
I'd see more connection between santa and a cup of boiled wine, for example, than between Santa and an icy-cold(?!) cola.
Anyway Merry X-mas! ;)
2006-12-19 02:31:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
THEY both rot your teeth make you mentally hyper(delirious) and are basically full of gas and shite! or is that satan and coca cola?same difference.
2006-12-19 02:34:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
snow.... coke had the polar bear. the polar bear lived in the north pole with santa. polar bear loved coke so much he give santa for christmas.. santa love coke too... so.... coke + polar bear = santa
and you get them all together because of snow.... cuz if coke had tiger and jungle there would be no snow around... santa wouldnt be in the jungle....
2006-12-19 02:26:11 · answer #8 · answered by .......... 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
An advertising agency.
2006-12-19 03:23:42 · answer #9 · answered by belgium 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They both go back so far, they were alone in the beginning.. So they decided to team up, and get rich.. ha ha.. They are both AweSome !!! Right ??
Merry Christmas
2006-12-19 02:25:38 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋