father christmas

[fatgaz]

i have just been told that father christmasess coat was originally green and coco cola changed it to red !! is this true ?

[Legolassie]

Hi fatgaz, Yes this is true. Coca Cola changed it sometime in the 50's I think.

[Shazza36]

My son asked me the other day if Coco Cola sponsored Christmas!

[Keeprockin]

No.
The Jolly Santa existed well before haddon Sundbloms famous 1930 advertising images.
His illustrations,and those of Thomas Nast in the 1860's,were based on New Yorker Clement Moore's 1823 poem " A visit from St Nicholas" (better known as 'The Night Before Christmas'
It moves the legend to Christmas eve,and,instead of the dour St. Nick,describes a rotund,twinkley-eyed,white bearded elf,with fur trimmed red clothes,reindeer with cute names a sledge that landed on rooftops and a sackful of toys
source
QI...The Book Of general Ignorance

[Whickerman]

http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/santa.asp

This is a great read

[fletcher.5]

yes im afraid it is. the greedy corperate Co adopted the winter symbol in the 1930s to promote their goods on the east. watch the TV ad at this time of the year. The little girl meets santa, who in turn meets him with her own daughter.
A very nice romantic image, which embraces the obscene world of corperate US capitalism