Every Christmas, the image of Santa Claus appears everywhere. However, not everyone knows why Santa Claus wears red clothing instead of other colors.
Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, or Santa Claus is a title for one person—the spirit of Christmas. The image of Santa Claus is based on a real historical figure.
While many people think that Santa Claus is merely a myth, the truth is that he originates from the legend of a real person named Nicholas who lived in the 4th century. He was the only child of a wealthy Christian family. Nicholas was born around 280 AD in Patara, a small port town in Lycia, Turkey. As a child, he was educated in the Bible by his mother, but unfortunately, his parents passed away due to an epidemic, leaving him with the entire family fortune. Born into a wealthy family, Nicholas often shared his wealth with the poor and secretly helped those in need. Because of his generosity, Saint Nicholas was beloved by both adults and children.
Despite this, the Romans always looked down on him. They imprisoned and tortured him in a dungeon. When Constantine became the Roman Emperor, he freed Saint Nicholas. From then on, Constantine became a follower of Christianity. He convened the Council of Nicaea, and Saint Nicholas was invited to represent the council. He was particularly praised for his love for children.
It is said that the surprise gifts were brought by Saint Nicholas himself, and he was also the one who always delivered presents to children during Christmas. The story of Santa Claus spread to Germany, where St. Nicholas was referred to as Kriss Kringle and became a symbol of Christmas. Later, the legend of Kriss Kringle spread to France, where the French called him “Père Noël.” Dutch settlers in New York referred to him as Sinter Klaas. Gradually, Sinter Klaas evolved into Santa Claus.
The image of Santa Claus is based on a real historical figure.
The story of Saint Nicholas became widely known to the point that whenever people received gifts, they believed they were from him. This famous figure also appeared in the works of various Victorian writers and poets, depicted as an old man with gray hair and beard, often seen in winter with a large sack of gifts.
During that time, Santa Claus had different names and wore various types of clothing in each country, including red, but the most common color was green, symbolizing the arrival of spring.
Santa Claus in a green coat, 1910. (Photo: Getty).
In January 1863, Harper Weekly (USA) published the first illustration of St. Nicholas in a coat decorated with stars. For the next 20 years, the image of Santa Claus frequently appeared in this magazine every Christmas. In January 1881, Harper Weekly published an image of Santa Claus with a large red belly, holding a pipe along with a big sack of gifts.
By the 1920s, Coca-Cola began using the image of Santa Claus to advertise its beverages. Artist Haddon Sundblom reimagined Santa Claus holding a Coca-Cola bottle, with a cheerful face and a big sack of gifts on his shoulder.
One of many advertisements by Coca-Cola. (Photo: Thefactsite).
Notably, he wore a red suit trimmed with white, similar to the two colors in the company’s logo. This advertising model continued to be used for many years afterward. The success of this beverage company meant that the image of Santa Claus in red became familiar to everyone.
Today, the image of Santa Claus flying through the night sky on Christmas Eve in a sleigh pulled by reindeer, entering homes through chimneys and placing gifts in stockings and under beds, has become popular and eagerly anticipated by children all over the world during the Christmas holiday.
