Prior to becoming an icon for Coca-Cola, in what color suit was Santa Claus/Father Christmas/Saint Nicholas depicted?

gdec1

In the British colonies of North America and later the United States, British and Dutch versions of the gift-giver merged further. For example, in Washington Irving's History of New York, Sinterklaas was Americanized into "Santa Claus" but lost his bishop's apparel, and was at first pictured as a thick-bellied Dutch sailor with a pipe in a green winter coat.Santa Claus later appeared in various colored costumes as he gradually became amalgamated with the figure of Father Christmas, but red soon became popular after he appeared wearing such on an 1885 Christmas card. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origins_of_Santa_Claus Aug 10 06, 8:52 PM

Gnomon

I believe Father Christmas, the British Santa, was normally depicted in a red suit, long before Coca Cola used him as an icon. Aug 11 06, 12:58 AM

zbeckabee

Before 1931, the company says, Santa Claus appeared in many different guises, from a green elf to a somber St. Nicholas and even a gaunt figure dressed in animal skins. That year, so the publicity goes, Coca-Cola commissioned a young Swedish artist, Haddon Sundblom, to give the icon a makeover. From 1931 on, Sundblom created at least one Santa picture annually. His St. Nicholas wore an ample red coat trimmed in white and held in place with a thick leather belt, and he was depicted in various seasonal scenes. A hat, also trimmed in white, appeared in 1934. Sundblom removed Santa's pipe, which can be seen in Nast's creation, and gave him a bottle of Coke. http://www.christmaspast.info/stories/realstory/modernsanta.html Aug 11 06, 8:04 AM

zbeckabee

Outside of the Coca-Cola Company, I am finding every color under the rainbow...with green and white dominating. Aug 11 06, 8:06 AM