Why Does Santa Wear Red Clothes?
Santa’s famous red outfit evolved over centuries from Saint Nicholas’s robes to European traditions and was finally made iconic by modern advertising.
When we think of Santa Claus today, we almost always imagine the same image — a cheerful old man with a white beard, a smiling face, and a red coat with white fur. But Santa did not always look like this. His famous red outfit developed slowly over hundreds of years through history, culture, art, and advertising.
The story begins with Saint Nicholas, a real person who lived in the 4th century in what is now Turkey. He was a Christian bishop, known for his kindness and for secretly helping poor people and children with gifts. As a bishop, he wore church robes, which were often red or dark in colour. In Christianity, red symbolised sacrifice, love, and leadership. This is the earliest reason why the colour red became connected to Santa.
As stories of Saint Nicholas spread across Europe, different countries imagined him in their own way. In places like the Netherlands, he became known as Sinterklaas and was usually shown wearing red bishop-style clothes. In England, he was called Father Christmas and was sometimes dressed in green, brown, or red robes, depending on how artists imagined him.
In early drawings and books, Santa appeared in many colours. Some artists showed him in green coats like a winter forest spirit. Others showed him in brown clothes with fur and leather, similar to travellers in snowy regions. In a few cultures, he even wore blue robes and tall hats. Since Santa’s story came from a mix of Christian legends, winter folklore, and gift-giving traditions, his look was not fixed for a long time.
Things started changing in the early 1800s. In 1823, a famous poem called A Visit from St. Nicholas described Santa as a happy, round man who travelled in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. The poem did not mention the colour of his clothes, but it made Santa feel warm, friendly, and joyful. Artists who drew Santa after this often chose bright festive colours, and red felt like the perfect choice.
In the late 1800s, an artist named Thomas Nast played a big role in shaping Santa’s modern image. His drawings, published in popular magazines, often showed Santa in a red coat with white fur, living at the North Pole and making toys for children. These images became very popular, especially in the United States, and helped make the red outfit more familiar.
The biggest turning point came in the 1930s, when Coca-Cola used Santa Claus in its Christmas advertisements. The company wanted people to drink Coca-Cola even in winter, so they needed Santa to look friendly, warm, and trustworthy. Their artist, Haddon Sundblom, painted Santa wearing a bright red suit with white fur, a black belt, and boots. The red colour matched Coca-Cola’s brand colour, making the ads very eye-catching.
These advertisements appeared everywhere — in magazines, posters, shops, and on Christmas cards. Santa looked cheerful, kind, and full of life. Over time, this version of Santa spread across America and then to the rest of the world through movies, television, and decorations. Slowly, older versions of Santa in green or brown clothes faded from public memory.
Coca-Cola did not invent Santa’s red outfit, but its advertisements helped fix this image permanently in people’s minds. Today, when we imagine Santa Claus, we are mostly thinking of this advertising version, often without realising it.
Over time, the red outfit also made sense emotionally. Red is linked with warmth, love, joy, and generosity — all feelings connected with Christmas. It also stands out clearly against snow and winter backgrounds, making Santa easy to recognise.
So, Santa’s red suit has a long journey — from a real bishop’s robes, to European traditions, to 19th-century art, and finally to modern advertising. What started as simple religious clothing slowly became one of the most recognisable and joyful symbols of Christmas around the world.
