Everybody;
Coca Cola invented Santa's look in the 1930s!
History;
Here some pre- 1930s American Santa illustrations.
Look familiar?
CC managed to cement this look into American (and then global) society with its advertising campaigns, but they didn't invent the look.
Coca Cola invented Santa's look in the 1930s!
History;
Here some pre- 1930s American Santa illustrations.
Look familiar?
CC managed to cement this look into American (and then global) society with its advertising campaigns, but they didn't invent the look.
And yes of course, Santa is originally Saint Nicholas, a pretty awesome chap, especially celebrated in the Netherlands.
He saved murdered kids and gave money to girls without a dowry.
His celebration was exported to America by Dutch immigrants.
As a Dutch person; You're welcome.
He saved murdered kids and gave money to girls without a dowry.
His celebration was exported to America by Dutch immigrants.
As a Dutch person; You're welcome.
A bit more about the original Saint Nicholas.
Nic was a generous nice chap, when he heard that a man could not afford dowries for his daughters, which meant the woman would remain UNMARRIED (shock horror) and possibly become prostitutes (yeah but no) he wanted to help.
Nic was a generous nice chap, when he heard that a man could not afford dowries for his daughters, which meant the woman would remain UNMARRIED (shock horror) and possibly become prostitutes (yeah but no) he wanted to help.
Like all proper chaps he was modest so he threw gold coins through a window.
Funnily enough, giving gold coins is still part of the Nicholas celebrations here in the Netherlands!
But these days the coins are chocolate on the inside.
Of course they were not Euros when I was a kid.
Funnily enough, giving gold coins is still part of the Nicholas celebrations here in the Netherlands!
But these days the coins are chocolate on the inside.
Of course they were not Euros when I was a kid.
Allegedly (yeah but no) Nic also one day found out about a butcher who had kidnapped three children, killed them and put them in a barrel for curing.
Nic thought this was a bit of a rude thing to do so he resurrected the pickled children!
Amazing!
Nic thought this was a bit of a rude thing to do so he resurrected the pickled children!
Amazing!
He did quite a few other things as well, you don't become a saint just like that after all.
This is my favourite painting of Saint Nic, it's from the 17th century and was painted by Dutch master Jan Steen.
Let's look at a few details.
This is my favourite painting of Saint Nic, it's from the 17th century and was painted by Dutch master Jan Steen.
Let's look at a few details.
Here we see one of the older kids telling the younger ones about Nic bringing the gifts via the chimney.
Glorious treats and is that a coin I see there sticking out of an apple?
Someone has been a very good girl this year!
And someone has been a very naught boy!
The older girl and the little boy are teasing and mocking him.
The girl is holding his shoe, it is empty, he got nothing at all!
Is the lady on the right, about to go out, also teasing or beckoning him to follow?
Is there a gift after all?
The older girl and the little boy are teasing and mocking him.
The girl is holding his shoe, it is empty, he got nothing at all!
Is the lady on the right, about to go out, also teasing or beckoning him to follow?
Is there a gift after all?
Jan Steen is famous for his often chaotic but fun and warm paintings full of details.
In our house my mother would often cry in despair; "It's like living in a Jan Steen household here!" whenever there was a bit of a mess.
I'll do a nice a thread on master Steen some day.
In our house my mother would often cry in despair; "It's like living in a Jan Steen household here!" whenever there was a bit of a mess.
I'll do a nice a thread on master Steen some day.
Just as I finish this thread I've been informed that the actor who played Saint Nicholas during the official celebrations has died.
He was a wonderful man, warm, friendly, witty and to many of my and the next generation the real Saint Nicholas.
He was a wonderful man, warm, friendly, witty and to many of my and the next generation the real Saint Nicholas.
Bram played the part so well, it was impossible not to love him.
When I got older I became even more impressed, seeing how he managed to verbally disarm rude journalists, tv presentors and random drunk passers-by with no effort at all.
When I got older I became even more impressed, seeing how he managed to verbally disarm rude journalists, tv presentors and random drunk passers-by with no effort at all.
He was one of those people who made my childhood better, I spend so many hours staring at him on tv, singing, dancing and every year afraid the story about the presents having been stolen by thieves or somehow lost was true.
I love him.
Thanks Bram.
nos.nl/artikel/236126…
I love him.
Thanks Bram.
nos.nl/artikel/236126…
Oh by the way, our Saint Nicholas travels across roofs on a horse, in winter!
Dutch children for that reason often leave a little treat for the horse by the fireplace, like this kid here leaving a carrot in a clog, she's also singing him a little song.
Dutch children for that reason often leave a little treat for the horse by the fireplace, like this kid here leaving a carrot in a clog, she's also singing him a little song.
When Saint Nicholas is visiting the Netherlands, we're allowed to place our shoes by the fireplace and sometimes he leaves us a treat.
This used to be my favourite treat, chocolate cigarettes.
Those were the days.
This used to be my favourite treat, chocolate cigarettes.
Those were the days.
Oh BTW this is how Coca-Cola describes their part in the Santa story... what do you think, is it a fair representation of the truth?
coca-colacompany.com/company/histor…
coca-colacompany.com/company/histor…
Oh btw this painting of Saint Nic saving the pickled chaps is brilliant.
Nic; You're alive again!
Pickled boys; Yay!
Butcher; Nay! I'm sorry I killed them!
Butcher's wife; I told you not to do it Dave but do you ever listen? Nooo.
Random guy; What on earth? I need another drink.
Nic; You're alive again!
Pickled boys; Yay!
Butcher; Nay! I'm sorry I killed them!
Butcher's wife; I told you not to do it Dave but do you ever listen? Nooo.
Random guy; What on earth? I need another drink.
And just in case you think I've been avoiding Saint Nicholas his sidekick Black Piet, I wrote a bit about that as an answer to this question here;
https://twitter.com/Java_Li_Script/status/1340296913988575233
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