Before he was commonly depicted wearing the red suit now so famous around the world, Santa Claus was often drawn wearing a tan or brown. While Santa Claus in a blue starred robe by Thomas Nast is a famous depiction, many artists of the same era portrayed Santa in different colors. Santa was shown wearing green, brown, and the red we're all used to.
A Pictorial History of Santa Claus Contrary to what many believe, Santa Claus as we know him today - sleigh riding, gift-giving, rotund and white bearded with his distinctive red suit trimmed with white fur. When you picture Santa Claus, the image of a jolly figure in a red velvet suit trimmed with white fur, tall black boots, and a cozy pom-pom hat likely comes to mind. This iconic look has become ingrained in pop culture, instantly recognizable worldwide.
But Santa didn't always wear red, and it took nearly a century of evolution to create the character we know and love today. What color was Santa originally? In fact, when Civil War cartoonist Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus for Harper's Weekly in 1862, Santa was a small elflike figure who supported the Union. Nast continued to draw Santa for 30 years, changing the color of his coat from tan to the red he's known for today.
Despite the red suit's dominance today, the exploration of what Santa wore before Coca-Cola opens up an engaging conversation about tradition, memory, and modernity. These discussions offer a fresh lens to view not only Santa Claus but also the broader implications of how symbols shift their meanings as society evolves. Coca-Cola advert featuring Sandblum inspired Santa, 1956.
This red-suited, rosy-cheeked Santa was used in numerous Coca-Cola adverts, and probably helped to cement the modern image in the minds of Americans and the ubiquity of the drink around the world meant it became one of the most widely. The jolly, red-suited figure we know as Santa Claus is an iconic symbol of Christmas cheer. But have you ever stopped to wonder what colors he originally wore? The evolution of Santa's appearance is a fascinating journey through history, art, and popular culture.
Unraveling the mystery of Santa's original attire takes us back to the roots of the holiday and reveals how traditions have. At Christmas It's not uncommon to hear somebody say "did you know Coca-Cola made Santa red and he was green before?" Find out the truth behind this "fact". What Colour was Santa's outfit originally? Prior to Nast's work, Santa's outfit was tan in color, and it was he that changed it to red, although he also drew Santa in a green suit.
This change is often mistakenly attributed to the work of Haddon Sundblom, who drew images of Santa in advertising for the Coca.