Coca-Cola Santa Comes To Swindon

My visit to Swindon today coincided with Santa 1, the Coca-Cola Christmas truck, visiting the Brunel Centre. There were long queues to see Santa, but I was more interested in the truck itself.

Although it is commonly thought that it was Coca-Cola who introduced Santa Claus' red costume, according to their web site, this is a myth:

It's widely believed that today's Santa wears a red suit because that’s the colour associated with Coca‑Cola, but this isn’t the case. Before the Coca‑Cola Santa was even created, St Nick had appeared in numerous illustrations and written descriptions wearing a scarlet coat.

However, it is true that Coca‑Cola advertising played a big role in shaping the jolly, rotund character we know and love today.

In 1931, Coca‑Cola commissioned Swedish-American artist Haddon Sundblom to paint Santa Claus for the company's Christmas adverts. Prior to this, Santa had been portrayed in a variety of ways throughout history: tall and gaunt; short and elfin; distinguished and intellectual; even downright frightening.

Sundblom’s paintings for Coca‑Cola established Santa as a warm, happy character with human features such as rosy cheeks, a white beard, twinkling eyes and laughter lines. This grandfather-style Coca‑Cola Santa captivated the public and, as our adverts spread globally, the perception of the North Pole’s most-famous resident changed forever. - Coca-Cola

L.
13.12.2014 (2137 hr)

Blip #1442
Consecutive Blip #004
Day #1725
LOTD #677 (#797 including archived blips)

Coca-Cola Santa Comes To Swindon, 13 December 2014 (Flickr album)

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