Santa's got a brand new bag

The most significant turning point came in the 1920s, when the Coca-Cola Company began its Christmas advertising. It is said that Santa's red coat appeared because of the predominant color of Coca-Cola's logo; however, the red clothes had already existed long before illustrator Haddon Sundblom painted him for the campaign. Due to the magical powers of advertising, the famous slogan "The Pause That Refreshes" impressed people, together with the kindly, grandfatherly man with round, rosy cheeks and a scarlet outfit. Some of Sundblom's works depicting Santa Claus have also become valuable art pieces that have been exhibited in famous museums, such as the Louvre and the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Coca-Cola solidified the image in our minds－and the marketing machine is largely responsible for our association with Santa in his big red suit.