St. Nick's Red Coat: A Christmas Icon

Saint Nicholas, the Greek monk who inspired the legend of Santa Claus, wore red and white robes as Bishop of Myra in the 4th century. However, the colour of Santa's coat has changed over time. In the 1800s, Santa was depicted in various outfits, including green, tan, yellow, and blue. It was the political cartoonist Thomas Nast who gave Santa his iconic red suit in an 1868 illustration.

St. Nick's coat was inspired by the 4th-century Saint Nicholas, a Greek bishop who wore red robes

Saint Nicholas, the inspiration behind the jolly figure of Santa Claus, is believed to have been a Greek monk or bishop who lived in the 4th century. Known for his generosity and kindness, he is said to have helped the poor, vulnerable, and sick. One of his most famous acts of charity was providing dowries for three sisters, thus saving them from a life of slavery and prostitution. This story is depicted in icons and frescoes across Europe, with Saint Nicholas often wearing a cowl.

The colour of Saint Nicholas' robe in these artworks, however, is not always consistent. While he is often shown wearing red, some depictions portray him in other colours, such as green or yellow. Over time, the image of Saint Nicholas evolved, and by the 17th century, Dutch families in Manhattan honoured him as "Sinter Klaas," a translation of "Saint Nicholas." This name was later adapted by American newspapers as "Santa Claus."

The popular image of Santa Claus as a rotund, jolly man in a red suit with white fur trim was solidified in the 19th century. Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist, is credited with creating the first illustration of Santa in a bright red suit in 1881. This was further popularised by Haddon Sundblom's artwork for Coca-Cola in 1931, which showed Santa in a red suit and is widely believed to have influenced the modern image of Santa Claus.

While the red suit has become synonymous with Santa Claus, it is worth noting that his attire has varied over time and across different cultures. In Britain, for example, Father Christmas is often depicted wearing a green hooded cloak, symbolising the arrival of spring. Nonetheless, the red-suited Santa Claus has become an iconic figure recognised around the world, with his colourful outfit adding to the cheer and festivity of the Christmas season.

Coca-Cola's 1931 advertisements featured St. Nick in a red coat, popularising the colour

The image of Santa Claus as an old man in a red coat is sometimes misattributed to Coca-Cola. While the company did popularise the image, Santa had been illustrated wearing red long before 1931.

In the 1930s, there were multiple examples of the Christmas figure represented as an old man in a red coat. However, Coca-Cola's 1931 Christmas campaign, featuring Haddon Sundblom's illustration of a warm and friendly Santa, certainly played a role in shaping the image we recognise today.

Prior to 1931, Coca-Cola had mainly used well-dressed young women in their advertising. But the red-coated Santa proved to be a hit, and the company made him a central part of their advertising methods. The popularity of the Coca-Cola Santa campaign enshrined his status in history.

From 1931 to 1964, Coca-Cola advertising showed Santa delivering and playing with toys, pausing to read a letter and enjoy a Coke, visiting with children, and raiding refrigerators. The original oil paintings created by Sundblom were adapted for Coca-Cola advertising in magazines and on billboards, posters, calendars, and even plush dolls.

While Coca-Cola did not invent the image of Santa Claus, the company's long association with the character has helped to define the look and personality of the modern Father Christmas.

St. Nick's coat was green in early illustrations and is still depicted as green in Britain's Father Christmas

St. Nick's coat, more commonly known as Santa Claus or Father Christmas, has been depicted in various colours over the years, including green, red, tan, yellow, and blue.

The earliest records of Santa's suit indicate that it was green. This depiction has been attributed to the work of German-American caricaturist Thomas Nast, whose illustrations of Santa appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1863 and featured a green coat. In the following years, Santa's suit underwent several colour changes in illustrations, including tan, yellow, and blue.

It was not until 1868 that Thomas Nast gave Santa his now-iconic red colour in an illustration titled "Santa Claus Sugar Plums." However, even after this, there were instances where Santa's suit was still shown in green. For example, in 1902, L. Frank Baum's story of Santa showed him wearing a dark green suit and red boots. This story was adapted for television and popularised the legend of Kris Kringle, even though his red suit was largely left out.

In Britain, Father Christmas, who is often considered the same person as Santa Claus, continues to be depicted in a green hooded cloak, with a wreath made of mistletoe, ivy, and holly on his head instead of the red hat that Santa Claus typically wears. The explanation behind the green cloak is that it heralds the arrival of spring in the subsequent months after the holidays. This is also the reason why, during different times in the 5th and 6th centuries, Father Christmas was known by other names such as Father Time, King Frost, and King Winter.

While Coca-Cola advertisements in the 1930s are often credited with popularising the image of Santa in his red suit, the truth is that St. Nick's red suit appeared in illustrations and written descriptions long before these advertisements were created. In fact, the artist behind the Coca-Cola ads, Haddon Sundblom, was inspired by Clement Clark Moore's 1822 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (also known as "The Night Before Christmas").

St. Nick's coat has been yellow, blue, tan, and even a hodgepodge of colours

St. Nick's coat has been depicted in various colours over the years, including yellow, blue, tan, and even a mix of different colours.

The traditional image of St. Nick, or Santa Claus, is that of an old man with a white beard, rosy red cheeks, and a deep red suit. This image has been popularised by Coca-Cola's advertising campaigns in the 1930s, with the artist Haddon Sundblom creating the original red-suited Santa for a magazine ad. However, before settling on the now-iconic red, St. Nick's coat has undergone several colour changes throughout history.

One of the earliest recorded instances of St. Nick's suit appears in a German-American caricaturist Thomas Nast's 1863 illustration in Harper's Weekly. Unfortunately, as the illustration was published in black and white, we cannot know the exact colour of the suit. However, just a year later, in 1864, Nast depicted Santa delivering toys in a yellow suit! This illustration accompanied the famous poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (also known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas").

Throughout the following years, Santa's suit underwent several colour changes, including tan, green, yellow, and even blue. It wasn't until 1868 that Nast gave Santa a red jacket in his illustration for "Santa Claus Sugar Plums". Even then, the rest of Santa's outfit was a mix of green and white, with a green hat and white pyjamas. It was only in 1881 that Nast created the modern image of Santa, complete with a red suit, white fur trimmings, a rotund physique, jolly appearance, a beard, and rosy cheeks.

The colour of St. Nick's coat has evolved over time, and even today, different cultures and traditions depict him in various colours. For example, in Britain, Father Christmas, who is often considered the same as Santa Claus, wears a green hooded cloak. So, while the red-suited Santa is the most widely recognised, St. Nick has certainly experimented with different colours for his coat throughout history!

St. Nick's coat is red because it's his favourite colour

Over the years, St. Nick's suit has undergone several transformations, with early records showing him wearing a green, tan, yellow, or blue suit. It was the political cartoonist, Thomas Nast, who first illustrated St. Nick in a red suit in 1868, though it wasn't until 1881 that he appeared in the full red suit and white fur trim we know today.

Some people believe that the modern image of St. Nick, or Santa Claus, was created by Coca-Cola in the 1930s to match the colours of their brand. However, this is not entirely accurate. While Coca-Cola did feature a red-suited Santa in their advertising, the artist, Haddon Sundblom, was inspired by Clement Clark Moore's 1822 poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (also known as "The Night Before Christmas").

In Moore's poem, he describes St. Nick as a "right jolly old elf" with a "broad face and a little round belly", a description that has greatly influenced the modern image of Santa Claus. The poem also mentions St. Nick's red suit, which had been a part of his character long before Coca-Cola's advertisements.

So, while the colour red may be associated with Coca-Cola, the reason St. Nick's coat is red is simply because it's his favourite colour, and it has been that way for centuries!

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