75th Anniversary of Coca Cola Santa

75th Anniversary of Coca Cola Santa - In 1931, The Coca Cola Company commissioned Michigan-born illustrator Haddon Sundblom to develop advertising images using Santa Claus. What started as an advertising campaign soon became a tradition that has captured the public's fancy for the last 75 years. For inspiration, Sundblom turned to Clement Clark Moore's 1822 poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas." Moore's description of the man as "chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf" led to an image of Santa that was warm, friendly and human. For the next 35 years, Sundblom painted portraits of Santa that helped to create the modern image of Santa -- that today lives on in the minds of children of all ages all over the world. The Coca Cola Company was among Sundblom's earliest clients. He created hundreds of enduring advertising images for Coca Cola, but none has had the impact of his Santa Claus series. He created his last two Santa paintings in 1964. His work had a powerful, enduring quality that continued to inspire future images of Santa Claus for Coca Cola.

The impact of Mr. Sundblom's creation was detailed in a history of Santa, "The Santa Claus Book," written by art director and advertising executive E. Willis Jones. In it, he wrote: "in 1931 there blossomed forth the heartiest, most universal Santa Claus ever. For two generations of Americans, and for millions upon millions all over the world, it is Sundblom's Santa who is the real Santa Claus, whose face, despite changing tastes and electronic times, radiates the true spirit of Christmas." To commemorate this event, The Coca-Cola Company created a series of limited edition products featuring "Santas for Coca Cola" by Haddon Sundblom. Each limited edition piece will have the 75th Anniversary seal commemorating this event. These special Coke products will be collector's treasures for years to come.