Many people will tell you that the modern Santa is dressed to match the red-and-white colours of a can of Coke, and was popularised by Coca Cola’s advertising in the 1930s.
A good story, but the red-and-white Santa himself wasn’t created to advertise Coca-Cola – why, he was touting the rival beverage White Rock back in 1923.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was the one who was invented as a marketing gimmick.
The modern Santa Claus is actually much older, a patchwork character woven together from different sources.
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46619012

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