How Coca-Cola created the modern Santa Claus

ESL Lessons: True Stories

A printable worksheet for story-based English conversation classes.

Difficulty: Intermediate B1

PDF: How Coca-Cola created the modern Santa Claus

Warm-up

Do you believe in Santa Claus? (Of course!)

Vocabulary Match

poem •• scary
realistic •• rented
spooky •• natural
plump •• moved
hired •• story
inspired •• chubby

Vocabulary Answers

poemstory
realisticnatural
spookyscary
plumpchubby
hiredrented
inspiredmoved

True Story

Listen and fill in the blanks with words from above.

Before 1931, Santa Claus looked very different. He was sometimes shown as thin or even ________. Coca-Cola helped create the cheerful Santa we know today.

In 1931, Coca-Cola ________ artist Haddon Sundblom to paint a friendly and ________ Santa. ________ by the ________ 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Sundblom made Santa jolly, ________, and dressed in red. He used his friend and later himself as models for the paintings.

The Coca-Cola Santa appeared in magazines and posters and quickly became popular. Sundblom\'s work created the modern image of Santa Claus. His paintings are now famous and are displayed in museums, making this Santa a lasting symbol of Christmas.

Before 1931, Santa Claus looked very different. He was sometimes shown as thin or even spooky. Coca-Cola helped create the cheerful Santa we know today.

In 1931, Coca-Cola hired artist Haddon Sundblom to paint a friendly and realistic Santa. inspired by the poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, Sundblom made Santa jolly, plump, and dressed in red. He used his friend and later himself as models for the paintings.

The Coca-Cola Santa appeared in magazines and posters and quickly became popular. Sundblom's work created the modern image of Santa Claus. His paintings are now famous and are displayed in museums, making this Santa a lasting symbol of Christmas.

Quiz

  1. When did Coca-Cola help create the modern Santa Claus?
  2. Who was hired to paint the Santa for Coca-Cola?
  3. What poem inspired the new image of Santa?
  4. Where can Sundblom's paintings be seen now?

Quiz Answers (examples)

  1. In 1931.
  2. Haddon Sundblom.
  3. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.
  4. In museums.

True or False

  1. Before 1931, Santa Claus was always jolly and plump. T F
  2. Haddon Sundblom used himself as a model for Santa. T F
  3. Coca-Cola's Santa appeared in newspapers and TV ads. T F

True or False Answers

  1. False
  2. True
  3. False

Conversation

A:Did you know Santa used to be thin?
B:What? Thin? That doesn't sound like Santa!
A:Yeah, Coca-Cola changed his image in the 1930s.
B:Oh, so they made him look like the Santa we know?
A:Exactly! A jolly, round man in a red suit.
B:That's so interesting. I never knew that!

Discussion

  1. Have you ever seen a Coca-Cola advertisement with Santa?
  2. What do you think Santa in Australia wears?
  3. Do you think Santa should look different in the future?
  4. What do you like to do at Christmas?

Further Reading

https://www.coca-colacompany.com/about-us/history/haddon-sundblom-and-the-coca-cola-santas

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