Coca Cola and Santa Claus

Coca-Cola played a big role in the Santa Claus character as we know it today. Coke was mainly drunk in the summer months and the company was looking for a way to boost sales in the winter months. In 1931 the illustrator Haddon Sundblom was commissioned by Coca Cola to draw Santa Claus for Coca-Cola advertisements. Until then, there were several characters depicted as Santa Claus.

Sundblom drew a friendly, warm man with human traits. Santa got a white beard, rosy cheeks, smile lines and sparkling eyes. His clothing was also striking: a red suit trimmed with white bands.

Coca Cola began advertising this Santa Claus and until 1964 he was depicted delivering packages and occasionally pausing to read a letter and drink a Coke.

Sundblom found inspiration in his immediate surroundings. His friend Lou Prentiss (a retired sales representative) modelled for Santa Claus and the 2 children Sundblom depicted in his Santa paintings were based on 2 little girls from next door. The dog in Sundblom’s 1964 painting was based on a grey poodle owned by the local florist.

People loved the Coca-Cola Santa Claus images so much and put so much thought into them that even the slightest tweaks got noticed. For a year, Santa’s big belt was depicted backwards in a commercial. Another year, Santa appeared without a wedding ring, leading fans to write letters to Coca Cola asking what happened to Mrs. Claus.

In 1942 Coca-Cola introduced “Sprite Boy”. Sprite Boy is an elf created by Sundblom, just like Santa Claus. Sprite Boy appeared in several Coca-Cola commercials featuring Santa Claus in the 1940s and 1950s.