Santa, Is That You?

Hollywood Santa - check out those pearly whites!

I’m doing some research today on early 20th century Christmas postcards before I start posting them on eBay. Turns out the jolly, red-suited, chubby-cheeked modern Santa Claus we all know and love is really a product of the Coca Cola company — created for a 1920s advertising campaign and popular ever since.  Prior to that, images of Santa were quite varied.  He was skinny, fat, tall, short, and wore suits of many colors, not just red.  Most of these old images are very charming and quaint, but some are funny and even a little bit strange by today’s standards.   Here are a few of my favorites:

 

Mean Santa

Sad Santa

Too Fat Santa

Smokin’ Santa

Mugshot Santa

Homeless Santa

Peeping Santa

Casual Friday Santa

Brown Suit Santa

Patriotic Santa

 

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