December 23 2006
HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW A WORD, IDIOM OR PHRASE ORIGINATED IN THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE?
In the 1900s many businesses actively started using the Santa Claus image to promote their products and services, but at the beginning of the 1930s, the burgeoning Coca-Cola company out did everyone in a big way. Their annual advertisements — featuring Santa holding bottles of Coca-Cola, drinking Coca-Cola, receiving Coca-Cola as gifts, and especially enjoying Coca-Cola — became a perennial Christmas-time feature.
In fact, their successful winter campaigns featuring Santa helped fuel the legend that Coca-Cola actually invented the image of the modern Santa Claus, decking him out in a red-and-white suit to promote the company colors. Although Coca-Cola certainly helped make Santa Claus one of the most popular men in America, they didn’t invent him.
Even Forbes Magazine recognized the unique commercial value of Santa Claus by consistently ranking him #1 in the annual Forbes “Fictional 15” List of the wealthiest individuals. That was until this year, 2006, when Forbes turned more cynical and gave the top spot to defense contractor Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks.
I hope you enjoy reading the attached pdf posting. Despite the trend toward commercialism, Santa Claus still has a special place in my heart and in my memories. It is important in these troubling times to rekindle those memories of our childhood and the true spirit of Santa Claus. If you need help, please check the hyperlink at the bottom of Part 4 – “Yes, Virgina, there is a Santa Claus.”
