Folklore: Santa Claus & Coca cola

Subject: Folklore: Santa Claus & Coca cola
From: Michael
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 04:22 PM

I have several times come across references to the fact that Santa's clothes are red because he was 'hijacked' by CocaCola but can't find anything to substantiate this. Can anybody help?

Mike

Subject: RE: Folklore: Santa Claus & Coca cola
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 04:25 PM

It's not true. Click here for more information.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Santa Claus & Coca cola
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 04:40 PM

I'm taking this down to the non-music side of the forum before I get six angry messages demanding it. I think Coca-Cola is part of the folklore of the United States, and possibly of the world - although I'm sure the purists may scoff at that. I also think that Coca-Cola has had some wonderful advertising through the years. And I particularly like Coke's depictions of Santa.

Some may call it "poplore," but I think Coke and its advertising are definitely part of our culture and history. I love to look through the ads in old magazines, particularly the Coca-Cola ads.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Folklore: Santa Claus & Coca cola
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 05:07 PM

Artist Haddon Sundblom painted his famous Coca-Cola Santa Claus advertisement art from 1931-1964. His depiction of Santa Claus came to be the most representative and beloved depiction of the character and the myth. Not unlike his contemporary Norman Rockwell, who was known to do Coca Cola advertising art himself, Sundblom's art is a reflection of American Christmastime culture and is truly beloved for it's warmth and pictures of a truly simpler time in America.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Santa Claus & Coca cola
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 05:21 PM

The Spirit of Christmas Present in Dickens' Christmas Carol - who is of course Father Christmas - wears Green:

It was clothed in one simple green robe, or mantle, bordered with white fur. This garment hung so loosely on the figure, that its capacious breast was bare, as if disdaining to be warded or concealed by any artifice. Its feet, observable beneath the ample folds of the garment, were also bare; and on its head it wore no other covering than a holly wreath, set here and there with shining icicles. Its dark brown curls were long and free: free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air. Girded round its middle was an antique scabbard; but no sword was in it, and the ancient sheath was eaten up with rust.

And today in a shop I saw a large model of Father Christmas dressed in Blue. Times keep on changing.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Santa Claus & Coca cola
From: GUEST,Martin Gibson
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 05:53 PM

This all proves that Harlow must be one obscure place.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Santa Claus & Coca cola
From: PoppaGator
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 06:07 PM

Santa Claus was an American Christmas icon before Coca Cola, dating back at least to Clement C. Moore's poem -- sometime before 1900, although I can't be more precise thatn that. I believe that the political cartoonist Thomas Nast (known for his cariacatures of New York's Boss Tweed) created some of the earliest Santa illustrations, pretty much defining the visual characteristics that all otehrs would have to follow.

In Nast's era, of course, newspaper cartoons were strictly black and white, so the color of Santa's coat *might* have been undefined. I wonder where the jolly old elf fiorst appeared in color -- some Currier and Ives print, maybe?

Note to Brits: Although most US customs and culture can be traced back to your shores, our Santa Claus comes from the Dutch settlers of New York City (Nieu Amsterdam), not from the English of New England, Viginia and points south.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Santa Claus & Coca cola
From: Joe_F
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 06:28 PM

Gator: 1823, according to tradition -- but the date, and Moore's authorship, have been disputed; some assign it to a Major Henry Livingstone, Jr, and a later date.

The poem says that St Nicholas was dressed entirely in fur, which would presumably be neither red nor green. We may still speculate about the color of his union suit.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Santa Claus & Coca cola
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 06:38 PM

Santa Claus and Father Christmas have different origins. They've sort of got merged over the years. Iconographcally Father Christmas normally gets drawn in a sort of long coat, sort of cross between a dressing gown and a trench coat while Santa Claus has that cute red trouser suit with fur trimmings.

I've always prefered to talk about Father Christmas as being the fella who fills the stockings.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Santa Claus & Coca cola
From: JennieG
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 08:08 PM

Out here if he has any sense he wears red shorts, thongs (that's the footwear not the underwear) and rides a surfboard to deliver pressies.
I feel sorry for those department store Santas in their hot outfits - and the (usually) false beards - that gear wasn't meant for the Oz summer. Sants Claus is definitely a northern hemisphere tradition.
Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: Folklore: Santa Claus & Coca cola
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 09:10 PM

I've wondered often what people in the Southern hemisphere do to cheer themselves up in the middle of their winter. I mean in the way of festivities.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Santa Claus & Coca cola
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Dec 03 - 10:26 PM

A mixed metaphor painting I did of the Coca Cola Santa.

http://www.angelfire.com/md2/customviolins/sainta.jpg

Subject: RE: Folklore: Santa Claus & Coca cola
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 08:06 AM

McGrath - we do have occasional Christmas-in-July celebrations. Sydney's Blue Mountains (100? miles west) can get snow in winter & some of the establishments there offer the traditional British festivities.

Winter in Sydney is not too cold or grey so we don't have the need for cheering-up festivities.

As I've never lived in the colder bits of Oz (ie where folks need an efficient heater/central heating & very thick clothing), I can't say any more.

This winter in my bit of Sydney (near the Harbour) I didn't even use my little blower heater, & was warm enough when I went out in silk shirt, fleecy waistcoat, medium jacket, and cotton knee socks under a long velvety rayon skirt. People in Sydney's West & South need stronger heaters & thicker outer clothes.

Aussies from colder climates, please reply to McGrath.

Hey, it's 12.07 on Christmas Day & I'm going to open my Secret Santa pressie.

sandra

Subject: RE: Folklore: Santa Claus & Coca cola
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 09:04 AM

Donuel, you may joke but I've been told that in Japan it's common to see crucified Santa's as the Japanese have got the cultural references confused.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Santa Claus & Coca cola
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 24 Dec 03 - 08:58 PM

Toowoomba on the Darling Downs has had for a few years a concerted business council push - "Christmas in July" - well it does get chilly enough to warrant open wood fireplaces, etc

Robin