UKH

Question about Father Xmas colour scheme?

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 David Hooper 22 Dec 2005
After just viewing the festive Coca Cola ad on TV, my GF has just come out with the classic Father Xmas used to be Green and White until Coca Cola made him red and white for an advert.

I prefer to subscribe to the northern european shaminic figure theory, wher santa Claus gets his red and white colour scheme from the good old Fly agaric mushroom.

Which of us is correct, or does anyone have any better theorioes?

Cool Yule from david
 Ri 22 Dec 2005
In reply to David Hooper: shes right
 Ri 22 Dec 2005
In reply to Dominion: that proves that
 Steve Parker 22 Dec 2005
In reply to David Hooper:

Shamans from the Sami tribes of Finland would customarily take small gifts around to families as part of the pagan midwinter festival. The gifts were presented through a small opening at the apex of the tent, which served partly as a chimney. The shamans rode on sleighs pulled by reindeer, as did many Sami, and they traditionally wore dark red clothing. Shamans from many other tribes in Northern Europe, Mongolia, Tunguska, Tuva etc also wore red as a distinguishing colour.
 Oli 22 Dec 2005
In reply to David Hooper: Maybe its people trying o imitate the real father christmas who travels so fast, his clothing spontaneously combusts. The nearest colour to this is red.
OP David Hooper 23 Dec 2005
In reply to Steve Parker: My pagan romantic side likes your answer Steve---do you have any sources for tis info.

BTW talking of Sami - have u heard any music by marie Boine Persson?
Witkacy 23 Dec 2005
In reply to David Hooper:

Santa is from Sinterklaas, the Dutch St Nick, who gets about in a red bishop’s dress and mitre. http://www.stnicholascenter.org/stnic/images/hendriks-wmaster.jpg

His helpers are the Zwarte Pieten – a bizarre racial employment policy. http://i9.ebayimg.com/02/i/04/fa/9a/2f_1_b.JPG

The US Santa had transformed into a fat red-suited prankster by the 1880s in at least some images. http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/images/Image130.gif

However, it was indeed the massive 1930s Coca Cola ad campaign that fixed the current image in all its glory. http://www.fortunecity.com/millennium/hibiscus/121/g_1934.jpg

It’s not perhaps a coincidence that they had to stop putting coca extract in it shortly before and had to find a new market, i.e. kids.
 Steve Parker 23 Dec 2005
In reply to David Hooper: There are plenty of sources, and it is all verifiable. It was all also discussed on a Ray Mears programme a year or so ago, filmed in Finland.
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