2007-11-28 03:42:57 · 32 answers · asked by MR Mystic 3 in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
Absolutely. He used to be seen in green but coke "pimped" him up.
xxR
2007-11-28 03:45:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
No.
It is true that Coke has been using this image for so long that it has fueled this myth, however, the first known image of Santa in his red and white suit was in 1885, when a Boston printer named Louis Prang introduced the custom of Christmas card.
The Santa featured was red-suited and chubby, as we know him today.
It was not until the 1930's that Coca-cola recruited a commercial illustrator to use this image to help increase their sales. This advertising strategy has been used every year since, creating such a strong association between Santa and Coke that this myth came into creation.
I hope this helped!
2007-11-28 03:54:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I first heard this last week and then again on the radio this afternoon. Do people really believe that? The modern image was created by Thomas Nast in 1863 and the red coloring was from an xmas card in something like 1885. Coca-Cola was invented until 1886.
2007-11-28 03:54:12 · answer #3 · answered by Mayor Adam West 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No but one PC council, i think has banned Father Christmas wearing his red suit, because of the commercialism associated with the Coca Cola brand, how stupid is that. Apparently they are going to use a green suited elf, what the hell is wrong with some people in this country.
2007-11-28 03:47:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I would have to say no because I have seen pictures done prior to 1900 that portray our dear Santa in red. Yes green was often used as well. If you really have to know Thomas Nast who worked for Harpurs weekly portrayed Santa in red and that was before coke got a hold of him.
2007-11-28 03:48:28 · answer #5 · answered by Terri 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sure is. About 1938 Coke used the Red and White rosy cheeked Santa in a pre Christmas ad campaign. Prior to that date Santa was a hooded figure in dark robes.
2007-11-28 03:56:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
No!!!! contrary to what most people believe Santa does NOT wear red because of Coca Cola
Santa Claus appeared in various colored costumes as he gradually became amalgamated with the figure of Father Christmas, but red soon became popular after he appeared wearing such on an 1885 Christmas card. Still, one of the first artists to capture Santa Claus' image as we know him today was Thomas Nast, an American cartoonist of the 19th century. In 1863, a picture of Santa illustrated by Nast appeared in Harper's Weekly.
Images of Santa Claus were further cemented through Haddon Sundblom's depiction of him for The Coca-Cola Company's Christmas advertising. The popularity of the image spawned urban legends that Santa Claus was in fact invented by Coca-Cola or that Santa wears red and white because those are the Coca-Cola colors. In fact, Coca-Cola was not even the first soft drink company to utilize the modern image Santa Claus in its advertising – White Rock Beverages used Santa in advertisements for its ginger ale in 1923 after first using him to sell mineral water in 1915. Even though Coca-Cola was not the first to do this, their massive campaign was one of the main reasons for why Santa Claus ended up depicted as wearing red and white, in contrast to the variety of colours he wore prior to the campaign. [5][6]
2007-11-28 03:53:50 · answer #7 · answered by Poppy84 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
29 answers why bother
I believe the story is a Religious Cardinal delivered cookies, candies and maybe toys this time of year to children and the needy...
Religious Cardinals wore red robes and white scarves
2007-11-28 04:17:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is an urban myth that is resurrected every few years - so the answer is no.
There are several other people on the site that have pointed you to the correct information.
2007-11-28 07:22:19 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes - sort of! Red and white, as colours, have a lot of mythological significance going back centuries, and have been associated with saint Nicholas - some old illustrations show him with a White cape and Red trimmings!
But the familiar Santa Suit was the creation of the Coca Cola company - using their corporate colour scheme!
2007-11-28 03:46:53 · answer #10 · answered by Avondrow 7 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Yes he was depicted in a coke advert in 1939 as a rosy cheeked fat bearded man in a red and white suit supping a bottle of coke in front of a roaring fire. Before that he was thin and dressed in green sometimes as well as other colours.
I am biased though - if I hear ' holidays are comin' holidays are comin' I go all Christmasy
2007-11-28 03:48:59 · answer #11 · answered by takethatfan 3 · 2⤊ 4⤋