Have you ever wondered about the origin of Santa Claus? Many urban myths have been created around this image, which is always present, be it at Christmas, from the youngest to the oldest.
There are those who say that Santa Claus is related to St. Nicholas, a wealthy Christian from the 3rd century who became a legend for the miracles he performed and the gifts he anonymously offered to those who needed it most.
In the Netherlands, St. Nicholas is called Sinterklaas, and it is on December 6th, the day dedicated to this saint, that gifts are exchanged.
There are also those who associate Santa Claus with Coca-Cola. In the 30s, the image of this character was different from how we see her now. Each artist painted Santa Claus in his own way: he could be an elf, a tall and thin man, or wear a fur coat or tunic.
In 1920, Santa Claus first appeared in soft drink advertisements. The famous old man, created by illustrator Thomas Nast, had a serious appearance and was not a great success.
In 1931, the image of Father Frost, familiar to all of us, appeared. Based on St. Nicholas, an affectionate and friendly figure was created, which remains in everyone’s memory to this day. It was the illustrator Haddon Sundblom who managed to win over children and began to take the image so seriously that there were those who followed his every step.
The Coca-Cola Company even received letters from fans asking how Mother Christmas reacted when her husband came home without his ring. And another year, letters talked about Santa’s upside-down belt buckle: the result of drawing and posing in front of a mirror, the brand explains.