The Origin of Sprite and Four Things You Never Knew About Santa Claus and Coca‑Cola

The familiar and beloved image of Santa Claus, the rotund man in a red suit with a white beard, didn't always exist. Surprisingly, before 1931, Santa took on various forms, ranging from a tall and thin figure to a somewhat eerie-looking elf. Over the years, he even appeared in different outfits, such as a bishop's robe or a Norse huntsman's animal skin.

In 1862, during the Civil War, the renowned cartoonist Thomas Nast illustrated Santa Claus for Harper's Weekly. At that time, Santa was portrayed as a small, elf-like character who showed support for the Union. Nast continued to depict Santa for three decades, eventually settling on the iconic red coat that we associate with him today.

Here are a few lesser-known facts about the cheerful figure in the red suit.

1. Santa Claus has been a prominent figure in Coca-Cola advertisements since the 1920s.

The Coca-Cola Company initiated its Christmas advertising campaign during that era, focusing on shopping-related ads that were featured in publications like The Saturday Evening Post. In these early ads, Santa Claus was depicted in a more austere and traditional style reminiscent of Thomas Nast's portrayal.

In 1930, the artist Fred Mizen created an iconic image of a department store Santa enjoying a bottle of Coca-Cola amidst a bustling crowd. This advertisement showcased the world's largest soda fountain, situated within the Famous Barr Co. department store in St. Louis, Missouri. Mizen's artwork was prominently featured in print ads during the Christmas season of 1930, making its debut in The Saturday Evening Post in December of that year.

2. Coca-Cola played a significant role in shaping the modern image of Santa Claus.

In 1931 the company decided to feature Coca-Cola advertisements in popular magazines, and to create a wholesome and symbolic portrayal of Santa, they collaborated with the D'Arcy Advertising Agency, led by executive Archie Lee. Their vision was to depict a Santa Claus who was both realistic and symbolic.

To bring this vision to life, Coca-Cola commissioned the talented illustrator Haddon Sundblom, originally from Michigan. Sundblom was tasked with creating advertising images of Santa Claus as a genuine character, not just a person dressed as Santa. Drawing inspiration from Clement Clark Moore's 1822 poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" (often known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas"), Sundblom crafted an image of Santa that was warm, friendly, pleasantly plump, and distinctly human. It's worth noting that Santa was already depicted wearing a red coat before Sundblom's artwork, so the idea that red was chosen solely because of Coca-Cola is a misconception.

Sundblom's version of Santa made his debut in 1931 in Coca-Cola advertisements featured in The Saturday Evening Post. This portrayal of Santa continued to appear regularly in various magazines, including Ladies Home Journal, National Geographic, The New Yorker, and others.

From 1931 to 1964, Coca-Cola's advertising campaigns portrayed Santa engaged in various heartwarming activities, such as delivering toys (and even playing with them!), reading letters, enjoying a Coke, interacting with children who stayed up to greet him, and playfully raiding refrigerators at different homes. The original oil paintings created by Sundblom served as the basis for Coca-Cola advertising across a range of media, including magazines, store displays, billboards, posters, calendars, and plush dolls. Many of these items are now highly sought-after collectibles.

While Sundblom created his final rendition of Santa Claus in 1964, Coca-Cola continued to feature images of Santa inspired by his original works for several decades. These paintings remain prized pieces in the company's art collection, with some even exhibited in prestigious locations around the world, including the Louvre in Paris, the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, the Isetan Department Store in Tokyo, and the NK Department Store in Stockholm. Many of these original paintings can also be viewed at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, Georgia.

3. The "New Santa" Was Based on a Salesman

In the initial stages of creating his Santa Claus imagery, Haddon Sundblom used a live model, his friend Lou Prentiss, who happened to be a retired salesman. After Prentiss passed away, Sundblom turned to himself as a model, painting while gazing into a mirror. Eventually, he began to rely on photographs to refine his portrayal of St. Nick.

The public developed a strong affection for the Coca-Cola Santa images, scrutinizing them closely. Any deviations from the established depiction prompted letters to be sent to The Coca-Cola Company. For instance, one year, Santa's large belt appeared to be backward (likely due to Sundblom's mirror-based painting approach). On another occasion, Santa Claus was depicted without his wedding ring, leading concerned fans to inquire about Mrs. Claus's whereabouts.

The children who shared the canvas with Santa in Sundblom's paintings were based on his neighbors, specifically two young girls. However, to accommodate artistic considerations, he transformed one of them into a boy in his paintings.

Interestingly, the dog featured in Sundblom's 1964 Santa Claus painting was a gray poodle belonging to a local florist. Sundblom wanted the dog to stand out in the festive scene, so he painted the canine with black fur for added visual impact.

4. Santa Claus Got a New Friend in 1942

In 1942, Coca-Cola introduced a character named "Sprite Boy," who became a regular feature alongside Santa Claus in Coca-Cola advertisements during the 1940s and 1950s. Sundblom, the same artist responsible for creating the iconic Santa Claus images, was also the creator of Sprite Boy. The name "Sprite Boy" was derived from the fact that he was an elf or sprite. It's worth noting that it wasn't until the 1960s that Coca-Cola introduced their popular beverage named Sprite.

The lemon-lime drink known today as Sprite was developed in West Germany in 1959 as Fanta Klare Zitrone ("Fanta Clear Lemon" in English) and was introduced in the United States under the Sprite name in 1961 as a competitor to 7 Up.

If you didn't know the backstory, you might assume that Coca-Cola's "Sprite Boy" was a mascot created for their famous soft drink, Sprite. However, there's a surprising twist in the world of big brands, akin to something you'd find in an M. Night Shyamalan movie: Sprite Boy had no connection to the lemon-lime soda. In fact, Sprite Boy made his debut in Coca-Cola advertisements nearly two decades before Sprite was even introduced!

Archie Lee, an executive at the D'Arcy Advertising Agency who worked on the Coca-Cola account during the 1940s, conceived the character of Sprite Boy. The renowned illustrator Haddon Sundblom, known for his iconic portrayals of Coca-Cola's Santa Claus, brought Sprite Boy to life through his illustrations. Sprite Boy first appeared in Coca-Cola ads in 1942, sometimes alongside Santa Claus and sometimes on his own. His mission was to help consumers associate their nickname for the beverage brand, "Coke," with the Coca-Cola brand name.

Sprite Boy had a distinctive appearance. As the term "sprite" is synonymous with "fairy" or "nymph," Sprite Boy possessed elf-like characteristics. He was often depicted with a cheerful grin, sporting two different hats and revealing only his head and hands. These hats alternated between a soda jerk's cap and a hat designed to resemble a bottle cap, symbolizing both aspects of the Coca-Cola business. Sprite Boy was surrounded by stars in his illustrations, serving as a nod to his sparkling personality and the carbonated bubbles inside Coca-Cola.

Despite gaining popularity among consumers, Sprite Boy gradually disappeared from Coca-Cola ads by 1958. It was only three short years later that the soda bearing the name "Sprite" was introduced to soft drink enthusiasts. While Sprite Boy may have exited the advertising scene, his legacy still endures in bottles, cans, and glasses of Coca-Cola everywhere. And if you examine those bubbles closely enough, you might just find that they resemble stars!