New Year's Eve and Coca-Cola

Today is New Year’s Eve, which is known as a day to celebrate the incoming year -- and the one we are leaving behind.

I know people who mark the day to both extremes -- and every way in between. They may attend big black-tie parties, go to a restaurant or stay at home.

This 1957 “Sign of Good Taste” magazine ad shows a group staying home with family and friends to ring in the New Year. With popcorn, a fire in the fireplace and bottles of Coke, it sounds like a nice evening!

Coca-Cola playing cards

Yesterday was “Card Playing Day,” and of course I wanted to celebrate!

I thought I’d tell you about a few Coca-Cola items you may have seen.

First are actual decks of cards. Playing cards are small and easy to display (or store!) and make good collectibles. The trick often is to find an entire deck – instead of just a loose card or two.

The deck I’ve shown here is from 1943. The 1940s were a common time for Coke playing cards, and were popular with members of the military. A full deck of cards with this design could sell for around $125.

Some older decks of cards can be worth much more, and other playing cards can be worth far less! There tend to be variations in the card designs (different color borders, for example), and prices can vary widely.

As with all Coca-Cola items, age certainly impacts the value of cards. If you have a deck of cards from the 1980s, 90s or this decade, I’m afraid you’re not holding a gold mine! (You only have a piece worth a dollar or so.) 

The other playing card collectibles I wanted to talk about are score pads, particularly for games of bridge. Like the playing cards, our score pads were popular in the 1940s. If you had parents that hosted bridge nights -- or you yourself have played -- you may recognize these score pads.

The price of score pads is lower than one might expect for decades-old paper pieces. In fact, the 1940s “calendar girl” score pad pictured here is only worth around $15! Generally paper pieces increase in value as they increase in age, but not these, possibly because they were distributed in very large numbers and can be found easily at auctions and flea markets.

Though they may not be worth as much as other collectibles, score pads are easy to store and display, and can make a great conversation piece. You can tell people about what it was like to keep score before you played bridge online!

Coke says Happy Boxing Day!

Today Boxing Day is celebrated in many countries around the world – from Canada to the UK, Aruba to Namibia, Sweden to Zimbabwe, and the Cayman Islands to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

It’s not, however, a holiday that’s really recognized in the United States, and I’m not much of an expert on it.

So I went where anyone else would go: I checked the Old Farmer’s Almanac, which is conveniently online now!

The Almanac tells me Boxing Day derives from the Old English custom of giving Christmas “boxes” to tradesmen, postmen and servants. The original boxes were usually made of earthenware and contained money, which could be retrieved only by breaking the boxes open.

Today, Boxing Day is welcomed as a quiet day of recuperation from the season's hectic festivities.

I didn’t have a Coca-Cola ad for Boxing Day, so I found this one of a family wrapping gifts. This ran in National Geographic, Saturday Evening Post and Ladies’ Home Journal in December 1946.

The Almanac also mentioned that Boxing Day happens to also be the biggest day of the year for soccer playoffs! That sounds like a great holiday!

Merry Christmas from Coca-Cola

As I spend time with my family today, I wanted to wish all of you a very merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday.

This 1960 Coca-Cola Santa Claus ad shows Santa relaxing with his elves – and a large plate of food! (We assume this is after he’s delivered the toys!)

I hope today finds you surrounded by friends and that you enjoy a wonderful holiday feast – just like Santa.

A Coca-Cola Christmas around the world

Our Coca-Cola Santa Claus was introduced in 1931.

Though the advertising campaign began in the United States, images of the Coca-Cola Santa are used throughout the world.

Here are just some of our ads from Asia, Canada, Europe and Latin America.

At top is a Santa from Sweden (from 1955).

Below: Santa from Canada (1940), a Santa from Peru (1998), a Santa from Japan (1998) & Santa and our Polar Bear from Poland (1990s)

   

            

We have a winner - a soldier's Christmas

On Friday I asked you to give me a funny or touching caption for this 1947 image of a soldier playing Santa for the day.

We had a shortened Friday Fun contest period, but you all didn’t disappoint me. You sent in some great captions.

• Hey Sarge! The Jeep is all packed with the presents and ready to roll! How's chubby, I mean Santa, coming along? Make sure that beard fits around his fat, I mean jolly, face.
• So here's the plan... We dress you up like Santa, send over eight soldiers in reindeer costumes and sneak down the enemy's fireplace.
• For two ice cold cokes, Chet got Henry's homemade flak jacket.
• Even across the sea, General Eisenhower made sure there was Coca-Cola and Santa Claus at Christmas for the troops.
• Hurry up Soldiers, the Colonel said we do not get any Coca-Cola or Presents until HE sees Santa.
• Let’s hope the enemy is celebrating Christmas too because you're gonna' make one heck of a target wearing that red suit!
• Hey Sarge, since you two are busy, can I have one of those Cokes?
• Hey Sarge, pass me a Coke!
• December 25th, Peace On Earth.
  December 26th, Resume bombing.
• Quick! The soldiers are awaiting Santa's delivery. So much Coke, so little time!

And the winner is: “Hurry up Soldiers, the Colonel said we do not get any Coca-Cola or Presents until HE sees Santa.” sent in by go4coke88. Congratulations! I’ll send you a Coca-Cola prize from my “goodie closet.”

Due to the holidays, our next Friday Fun game will be on January 2. Thanks to everyone who has taken part in these contests over the past few months!

The artist behind the Coca-Cola Santa

In 1931, artist Haddon H. Sundblom created an interpretation of Santa Claus that was used to advertise Coca-Cola, and for the next three decades his vision of Santa appeared in the most popular magazines in America.

Over the years, the Coca-Cola Santa helped to create the modern-day image of St. Nick – friendly and jolly with a kind face. (Before this, Santa had sometimes been scary!)

In the 1930s, Sundblom was one of the leading illustrators of his time, working for clients that included Cream of Wheat, Nabisco, Maxwell House Coffee, Whitman Chocolates, Goodyear Tires and Budweiser.

Sundblom began producing illustrations for Coca-Cola in 1924, and continued until his death in 1976. He would become our Company’s most prolific artist, painting subjects ranging from bathing beauties to soda-fountain scenes to our “Yes Girl” billboard.

He also created the famous Sprite Boy character.

The Sprite Boy is an elf that appeared in Coke ads in the 1940s and 50s, wearing either a soda jerk’s hat or a bottle cap as a hat. He helped tell people that it was OK to use the nickname “Coke” instead of using the full “Coca-Cola” name. (Using “Coke” was something the Company had resisted for years.)

Santa and Sprite Boy were featured together in a few holiday ads, including this 1949 “Travel Refreshed” piece. Of course, since Santa didn’t appear beyond the holiday season, the holidays were the only time the two appeared together!

Write your own caption - a soldier's Christmas

I’ve talked about Coke’s role with the troops during World War II, and our ties to Christmas with the Coca-Cola Santa Claus.

Our Santa was created by artist Haddon Sundblom. But Sundblom took a different approach to Santa with this 1947 painting showing soldiers getting ready for Christmas. (Of course, the soldier is dressing as Santa only because the real St. Nick was busy at the time! This is a family site!)

The game: For this Friday Fun contest, write a clever, funny or – to honor the season – touching caption for this Coca-Cola image. Submit it to me through the “comments” section below.

Please send me your captions by Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 8 a.m. (EST). (The deadline is shortened due to the holiday next week.)

The prize: I’ll announce the winner that same day – Dec. 23. The person who sends me my favorite caption will win a Coca-Cola prize from my “goodie closet.”

I’ve always loved this painting, and I can’t wait to read your captions!

See the winning caption.

Minute Maid Tingle Bells punch recipe

As you get ready for holiday get-togethers, I thought you’d like this punch recipe, made with Sprite and Minute Maid lemonade. (Don’t you love that we get two of our drinks in this punch?)

The recipe is from a 1967 magazine ad, and I think it still stands up!

Tingle Bells Punch

2 quarts cranberry juice
1 can (6-oz) frozen Minute Maid lemonade concentrate, thawed
½ cup maraschino cherry juice
60 ounces of Sprite, well chilled

Combine all ingredients. Serve over ice in punch bowl. Garnish with lemon slice, orange wedge and maraschino cherry alternated on cocktail picks.

Makes about 40 4-ounce servings.

This recipe deserves a try if only for its great name! Happy holidays!

See our other recipes.

We have a winner - Polar Bear Parade

Last week’s Friday Fun contest featured this 1952 photo from a Spring festival in Peru.

I loved the polar bear parade float, and thought it would be a good way to help celebrate our Coca-Cola Polar Bear’s 15th birthday.

We got some very “punny” entries – many based on things being un“bear”able.

• The real "Polar Express."
• The only bear you will ever ride
• This is not an old wives' tale. It proves a polar bear will go anywhere, anytime for an ice cold Coca-Cola.
• The gas mileage on this thing is unbearable
• I can't bear to be in a parade without a Coke.
• It got too unbearably cold back home, so I'm hitting the road and I'm coming to a town near you!
• IF IT SNOWS NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TOO SEE ME. WILL THEY?
• Now This Is Bear-Back Riding!
• Even polar bears like Coke floats.
• Taking a spin into the next generation with Coke! Coming to a generation near you!
• Ride a hypnotized animal - free!
• I'm glad that stupid target is behind me and not in front of me!
• Parade viewers could only watch in horror as the huge saw blade started cutting through the polar bear and the girl sitting atop the bear was about to be turned into a half sister.
• If I look straight ahead, show no emotion, and stand perfectly still, the kids will never know I'm not bilingual.

The winner is: “The gas mileage on this thing is unbearable” sent in by PMTushin. Congratulations! You’ve won a Coca-Cola prize from my “goodie closet.”

Thanks to everyone who sent in a caption. I hope you come back tomorrow for our next game!