By Eshana Saha
Published Dec 22, 2024

Hindustan Times
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The real story behind Santa and his red suit

Who is Santa Claus really? Santa's journey starts with Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop known for his generosity and secret gift-giving.

Saint Nicholas: The Original Santa - Born in modern-day Turkey, Saint Nicholas was famed for helping the poor and anonymously gifting gold coins to families.

Over time, Saint Nicholas evolved into Santa Claus, blending traditions from Europe, including Dutch "Sinterklaas" celebrations.

The Red Suit Myth: The red suit we know today was popularized in the 1930s by Coca-Cola’s holiday ads, designed by Haddon Sundblom.

Why Red? While red wasn’t always Santa’s color, it became iconic in the 20th century, thanks to Coca-Cola’s festive marketing.

The Coca-Cola Connection: In 1931, Coca-Cola’s ads featured Santa in a red suit, solidifying the image we associate with him today.

Santa’s red suit is now inseparable from the holiday spirit, but his story was centuries in the making!