Today's idea of Santa Claus was introduced by artist Haddon Sunblom as advertisements for which company?

Today's idea of Santa Claus was introduced by artist Haddon Sunblom for advertisements for The Coca-Cola company. In the 1930s Sunblom painted larger-than-life Santa Claus figures which were used in popular advertisements by The Coca-Cola Company.

Sundblom provided Santa Claus images who were grandfatherly in appearance and a key figure in the imagery of what an American Christmas is all about. So popular were Sundblom's images of Santa that are still used by Coca-Cola in the twenty-first century.

Critics and fans like to say that Sundblom must be credited with having created the very first modern image of Santa Claus. Sundblom gets pigeonholed as the painter of Coca-Cola Santa Clauses, but his work goes far beyond this. During the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, he worked for very many Fortune 500 companies.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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16 Comments

Alicia Szot

And to think that there are those who want to ruin the image of Santa for future generations by making him (Santa will always be a "him" to me) non-binary or female. Sorry but...some things need to be left alone!

hector tubens

Seen some of the Coca-Cola ads with Santa Claus depicted. Great ads

maidofstardust

Once you find out he’s just born of more advertising, you can’t pretend that Santa is a traditional figure handed down through generations, anymore. All those historically previous tales of different gift-or-punishment bringers are truer and multi-gendered and internationally diverse. Much more imaginative and spiritually satisfying to each culture.

Jim Mascair

At Ren Faires there are more traditional European Santas and I like them as much as our Cola Santa.

Stephen Greufe

Everybody has their own idea and vision of 'Santa Claus'. When you say 'Today's idea', you imply that the Coka-Cola image is the image of everybody, and this is not the case.

kandilarson

Santa's a bad influence. He uses an unpaid work force and he's a smoker. Poor Mrs. Clause. She has to deal with that second hand pipe smoke. Let's also admit that with his weight issues, he's not exactly a healthy role model for children.

Joanne Serin

Alicia Szot, who cares? He was just a figment, albeit a successful one, of some Coca Cola ad person's mind (possibly on the other "coke " an original ingredient of the drink) anyway. If not for Santa, no matter what color or gender, children might not be spoiled, poor families would no t.c have to scrounge or feel guilty for not being able to afford Xmas presents, and Jewish children might not feel left out in December, being able to celebrate our Chanukah as it was designed.

tdelisi

Alicia Szot, I find it hard to believe what you are saying. At first, I would be inclined to agree with you, but after a second thought, you sound like a Russian plant meddling with us.