I heard, yet again, on a local radio station today another idiot presenter perpetuate the myth that Coca Cola invented the red suited Santa Claus (or Father Christmas as we ought to refer to him as in the UK). As usual, the fool on the radio told us this information as if it was some sort of hidden fact that he had carefully dug up, announcing it in a "Did you know that ... " way, thus making people who don;t know think he is some sort of genius.
The truth of the matter is somewhat different, with the true facts being outlined HERE.
So just for the record and for anybody who really wants to know, Coca Cola did not invent Father Christmas or Santa Claus in a red suit, at the very least there is evidence of a Red suited Santa Claus appearing on Christmas cards 50 years before Coca Cola used him in ads, but there is also lots more evidence too. As the source says, this isn't to say Coca Cola using him in red did not further cement this image in to people's minds, but they did not invent him. Just read the link above and if you get the chance to tell anyone, tell them that Coca Cola did not invent his red suit.
Sorry. Rant over.
6 comments:
Did you know that when the baby Jesus grew up, he became Father Christmas? Think about it. It all makes sense now.
The confusion is probably due to the fact that Coca Cola invented the fat Father Christmas / Santa Claus. I have seen many old post cards, and he was rather thin in those, and didn't usually smile much, just looked benevolent. But he was wearing a red suit, or in some pictures also grey and red.
I have read that it is all to do with red and white Fly Agaric mushrooms being eaten by Lap reindeer herds and the Laps wanting something warm to drink in the winter which had a hallugenogenic effect - and the fact that the common point of entry into a Lap hoem was through the smoke vent in the top...
Duncan Borrowman, interesting theory, but coca bushes don't grow in Lapland, so what's the connection with Coca Cola?
Errr.. none.
What have coca bushes got to do with it. Red and white santas are to do with nordic drugs not american drugs.
So Coca Cola simply stole the idea from poor Laps.
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