Coca-Cola lights up the UK with return of iconic advert

Today, one of Christmas’s most loved and longest-standing festive adverts is back for the nation to enjoy, with the Coca-Cola "Holidays Are Coming" advertisement making its return.

The release of the Coca-Cola Christmas “Holidays Are Coming” advert has become an iconic holiday tradition, marking the start of the festive period. It has captivated audiences worldwide for over two decades. The heartwarming message of unity, happiness, and the spirit of giving throughout the advert is why, for the first time, Coca-Cola has conducted comprehensive research[1] exploring the sentiment of the long-standing ad, and unveiled the nation's emotional connection to the advert and its instantly recognisable jingle.

Each year, the return of the Coca-Cola Christmas "Holidays Are Coming" advert is eagerly anticipated, marking the official start of the holiday season for 44 per cent of Brits. The advert’s unmistakable jingle and the sight of the twinkling truck gliding through a winter wonderland have become synonymous with the start of the holiday season. This sparks a rush of nostalgia (29 per cent), happiness (27 per cent) and warmth (20 per cent) that transcends generations.

In addition to the “Holidays are Coming” advert, Coca-Cola will also launch its new 2023 Christmas campaign, “The World Needs More Santas” on 17 November in Great Britain. Santa Claus serves as a symbol of kindness, generosity, and goodwill, whether it's helping a neighbour, sharing the last Coca-Cola, or lending a hand to a stranger in need.

“We're delighted to share our Christmas celebration plans for Great Britain, with not one but two adverts to kick-start the festive season,” said Elodie Peribere, Director of Marketing at Coca-Cola Great Britain, said. “Our beloved 'Holidays Are Coming' advert will be back this year as it remains a cherished and much-loved part of Christmas for Brits. We are also delighted to launch our new advert for 2023, ‘The World Needs More Santas’, which we hope inspires consumers across the UK to find their ‘inner Santa Claus’ this festive period.”

Coca-Cola has had a longstanding affiliation with the image of Santa Claus following its initial use in Christmas adverts in the 1920s. In 1931, Coca-Cola commissioned Haddon Sundblom, a Michigan-born illustrator, to create images of Santa Claus to be worked into the brand Holiday adverts. The iconic imagery is synonymous with Coca-Cola and the originals can be found in art galleries across the world.