It is a very common myth that Coca-Cola "invented" Santa's red suit or changed it from green to red, but the truth is a bit more nuanced.
The short answer is: No, Coca-Cola did not change Santa’s dress to red. Santa was already frequently appearing in red clothes for decades before Coke ever used him. However, Coca-Cola is responsible for standardizing his look into the specific jolly, grandfatherly version we see everywhere today.
The Real History of the Red Suit
Before Coca-Cola launched its famous campaign in 1931, Santa’s appearance was actually quite inconsistent:
* Historical Origins: Saint Nicholas (the 4th-century bishop who inspired the legend) was traditionally depicted in red and white bishop’s robes.
* The 1800s: Famous cartoonist Thomas Nast began drawing Santa for Harper’s Weekly in the 1860s. By 1881, his illustrations settled on a rotund man in a red suit with white fur trim—50 years before the first Coca-Cola Santa ad.
* Other Colors: It is true that in the 19th century, Santa was sometimes shown in green, blue, brown, or even tan. He was often depicted as a thin, elfish, or even slightly spooky character.
What Coca-Cola Actually Did
In 1931, Coca-Cola commissioned illustrator Haddon Sundblom to create a series of ads. While he didn't "invent" the red suit, his work changed how the world saw Santa:
* Humanized the Character: He moved away from the "elfin" look and made Santa a large, warm, "human" man with rosy cheeks and laughter lines.
* Global Consistency: Because Coca-Cola was such a massive advertiser, Sundblom’s specific version of Santa (the bright red suit, black belt, and big boots) was printed in magazines and on billboards worldwide.
* The "Coke Red" Match: The shade of red used for Santa’s suit happened to perfectly match the Coca-Cola brand color, which helped cement the association in people's minds.
> Fun Fact: Haddon Sundblom actually used his friend, a retired salesman named Lou Prentiss, as the model for Santa. When Prentiss passed away, Sundblom began using his own reflection in the mirror to paint Santa!
