At the tender age of 49 my Christmas was ruined when I was told that the real reason that Santa’s coat was red – was because of a Coca Cola adverting campaign in the late thirties – green didn’t go well with the red of the cola label or the look of the drink.
However a great eccentric on the BBC TV breakfast show has put my mind at rest. In Victorian times the British post man wore a red cloak and on many Victorian Christmas cards – Santa was portrayed as red as opposed to green or blue on continental Europe. Interestingly the nickname for postmen was robins – which was how the link between the robin and Christmas developed.
He also told the tale of St Nicholas – the origin of Santa Claus – who was always dressed in green – and how he helped a landowner down on his luck – by giving a bag of gold – for a dowry – for each of his daughters – just before they were to be married. The first two he was able to throw the bag through the window – but for the third one – the window was locked – so he climbed up on the roof – dropped the bag down the chimney – and it was found the next day in the girl’s stocking – hung up to dry near the fireplace.
So Christmas has been restored for me.