Father Xmas is only red and white cos of Coca Cola

[max_tranmere]

This is quite amazing. Shows how powerful and influential large corporations are. An advertising campaign in the 1930's for Coca Cola had him in the colours of the Coke can and it has stuck ever since. He was previously green apparently. This is quite incredible... Has anyone else heard about this before?

[Steve R]

I thought this was quite widely-known, but apparently not.

Of course, the origins of Father Christmas, ironically, can be traced to pre-Christian times in Europe, but his Santa Claus appearance, as we now know it, is all down to much more recent American influence.

Similarly, many Scotsmen would be horrified to learn that 'Traditional Highland Dress' is nothing of the sort, but is a 19th century invention - thanks being due to the novels of Sir Walter Scott and King George IV.

[JonnyHungwell]

I thought all that kilt and bagpipe nonsense was invented by Scots Porridge Oats - and Caber Tossing was something those closet Scotsmen got up to on Georgie Michael moment in the park.

You can always tell a McDonald --- look up his kilt and he's got two quarter pounders

[Dave Wells]

Yep, absolutely true.

[colonel]

Actually only an urban myth. That's all.

[Steve R]

No, it's a fact (sadly).

[MacD]

[Steve R]

Yes, although Santa had appeared in many different colours - including red - it was the Coca Cola advertising that cemented the image of Santa that we are now familiar with.

[Mysteryman]

Coke's museum in Atlanta makes a big thing of this - and also the round smiley face of FC, that almost every graphic representation follows, comes from the same campaign.

I bet they are kicking themselves that they didn't get a firmer grip on the rights to both the red and the face.