サンタクロースのイメージを作ったのは？

我々が今イメージするサンタの原型を作ったのは1930年代から始まるコカコーラの広告だったことは結構有名な話ですが、コカコーラの会社も特設サイトを作って積極的にアピールしているんですね。



Journey Scoop! 「赤い衣装のサンタクロース」は コカ･コーラ社のキャンペーンがルーツだった!?
By: 塩沢 槙 | 2013/11/19

5 Things You Never Knew About Santa Claus and Coca-Cola
By: Conversations Staff | Jan 1, 2012



文化的事項を丁寧に説明してくれている英英辞典のオックスフォードはSanta Clausも大きく扱ってくれています。He usually finds that the children have left him a plate of Christmas cookies (= sweet biscuits in special shapes) or, in Britain, a mince pie (= a small pastry containing dried fruits), and possibly salt or a carrot for his reindeer.という部分は上の動画コマーシャルを見てもわかりますね。

（オックスフォード）
On 24 December, the night before Christmas, children hang stockings (= long socks) at the end of their beds. Santa leaves the North Pole with a sled or sleigh (= a kind of carriage with metal strips instead of wheels so that it can move over ice and snow). Santa's sled is pulled by reindeer (= a kind of deer) called Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph, who know how to fly. They travel through the air stopping on the roof of every house where a child is sleeping. Santa slides down the chimney and leaves big presents under the Christmas tree and small ones in the stockings. He usually finds that the children have left him a plate of Christmas cookies (= sweet biscuits in special shapes) or, in Britain, a mince pie (= a small pastry containing dried fruits), and possibly salt or a carrot for his reindeer.
Santa Claus is an important symbol of Christmas, and pictures of him appear on Christmas cards and decorations. He is mentioned in poems and Christmas songs (= traditional songs) such as The Night Before Christmas and Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer. As children get older they realize that Santa Claus cannot be real and stop believing in him.

もちろん時代や社会の変化に従ってイメージは変遷するもの。今年はアメリカのモールで黒人のサンタが登場してニュースになっていました。