When you picture Santa Claus, the image of a jolly figure in a red velvet suit trimmed with white fur, tall black boots, and a cozy pom-pom hat likely comes to mind.
This iconic look has become ingrained in pop culture, instantly recognizable worldwide. But Santa didn’t always wear red, and it took nearly a century of evolution to create the character we know and love today.
Shaping Santa Claus
Santa Claus’s origins can be traced to a patchwork of historical and cultural influences. His predecessors include the early Christian bishop St. Nicholas, known for his generosity; the Dutch Sinterklaas; the hooded French figure Père Noël; and Germany’s Christkindl, a gift-bringing figure whose name inspired the American nickname Kris Kringle.
These figures varied widely in appearance, but they all contributed to the development of the perfect Santa Claus, as we know him today.
The modern Santa began taking shape in the early 19th century, thanks to literature and art.
In 1823, Clement Clarke Moore’s poem “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (commonly known as ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”) depicted a bearded man traveling in a sleigh pulled by reindeer.
Then, an earlier anonymous poem from 1821 referred to him as “Santeclaus” and reinforced his association with gift-giving. However, there was little agreement on his outfit, height, or other defining features.
The Evolution of Santa’s Look
It wasn’t until the 19th century that artists and writers experimented with Santa’s appearance. Some illustrations depicted him as a small, elf-like figure, while others portrayed him in various colored robes.
An 1837 oil painting showed Santa in a fur-lined red cape, while an 1864 illustrated version of Moore’s poem dressed him in yellow.
P.T. Barnum’s 1850 advertisement for singer Jenny Lind featured a beardless Santa in Revolutionary War attire.
By the early 20th century, Santa’s look was still evolving, appearing in dark frocks or flamboyant red boots in different depictions.
Finally, The Red Suit
Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist for Harper’s Weekly, played a crucial role in shaping Santa’s image. During the Civil War, Nast’s 1863 illustration featured Santa in patriotic stars and stripes as he distributed gifts to Union soldiers.
By 1881, Nast’s drawings of Santa in a red suit with white fur trim and a belt buckle became a near-final version of the character we recognize today.
Santa’s now-iconic red suit became cemented in popular imagination through 20th-century advertising. Haddon Sundblom’s illustrations for Coca-Cola’s holiday campaigns, starting in 1931, featured a warm, jovial Santa in a vibrant red suit, creating a lasting impression on audiences worldwide.
Though Coca-Cola popularized this image, it wasn’t the first company to use Santa in a red suit; White Rock Beverages had already done so during World War I.
Historians suggest that Santa’s red-and-white ensemble is a practical choice. Red is a vivid color that contrasts beautifully against snowy landscapes and Santa’s white beard, while fur trim evokes the Arctic origins of the character.
Santa’s hat, often linked to historical headwear like the Phrygian cap and papal camauro, has evolved into a unique and indispensable part of his identity.
Santa’s transformation into a beloved holiday figure was part of a broader cultural shift in the 19th century. Influential New Yorkers like Clement Clarke Moore and Washington Irving sought to reinvent Christmas as a family-focused holiday, moving away from its rowdy, street-gang roots.
Santa Claus became a symbol of generosity, offering gifts without making demands and creating joy for children. His elfish nature gave way to a taller, jollier figure, embodying warmth and goodwill.
As Santa’s story evolved, so did Christmas traditions, including tree decorating, gift exchanges, and the commercialization of the holiday, and, right by the mid-20th century, Santa Claus was firmly established as maybe the most nostalgic figure and marketing powerhouse, making him one of the most recognizable figures of all times.
