Parents see red over school's green-suited santa

[Stoneage Dinosaur]

Father Christmas has been given a makeover - after one school decided his red suit was a symbol of "modern commercialism".

School spokesman Sarah James said: "The red-suited Santa was created as a marketing tool by Coca-Cola, it is a symbol of commercialism."

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770

[Richard W]

Cheryl Williams, 24, said: "What are they going to ban next - snow? Once again the PC brigade have clamped down on everyone's fun."

Well, "snow" is traditional slang for cocaine, which is already banned in schools, so she does have a point. First they took the cocaine out of Coca-Cola, then they took it out of our schools, and now they're trying to take Coca-Cola out of schools too! PC gone mad! Cocaine for all!

[Mosherette]

Should we also ban the red traffic lights?

Just how stupid is this country becoming?

- Margaret, Suffolk

I think you've answered your own question there, Mags m'dear.

[Tarquin Farquart]

121 people have commented on this story so far. Tell us what you think below.

Never mind PC going mad, the Mail commenters have gone ballistic!

By the same reasoning all children should be banned from watching a parade of the household cavalary, supporting Wales (or the England in their away strip). The first thing to be done is submitting the idiots at that school for some psychiatric assessments.

- Phil Bailey, Shrewsbury

No they shouldn't. They are two different things.

Actually, 'Father Christmas' was always dressed in green. That is the traditional colour, not the commercial Coca Cola red which only came into being in the early 20th century in order to promote the fizzy drink.
And 'Santa Claus' came to us from abroad as well, incidentally.
If we want to celebrate a traditional British Christmas we should dress the jolly gift-bearer in green, call him Father Christmas and eat roast Goose on Christmas day, after Christmas Mass.

- Cgw, Huyton, Liverpool

Hurrah! Sensible comment...

[Namowal]

Originally Posted by Stoneage Dinosaur

School spokesman Sarah James said: "The red-suited Santa was created as a marketing tool by Coca-Cola, it is a symbol of commercialism."

Sarah James is oversimplifying. According to Wikipedia (which, I admit, can have errors), while it's true the character was often depicted in green robes, it wasn't his exclusive look. Multi color robes were part of his wardrobe too. His red outfit became popular in 1885, some 45 years before he started pitching Coca Cola.
A snopes article tells a similar history.
That being said, even if her notion were true, or even if modern kids believed their gifts came from Mr. Happy CokeCan, would dyeing him green really change anything?

[Andrew of Ware]

Green robes, eh?

Wasn't Coca-Cola originally green?

[Graham2001]

Originally Posted by Namowal

Sarah James is oversimplifying. According to Wikipedia (which, I admit, can have errors), while it's true the character was often depicted in green robes, it wasn't his exclusive look. Multi color robes were part of his wardrobe too. His red outfit became popular in 1885, some 45 years before he started pitching Coca Cola.
A snopes article tells a similar history.
That being said, even if her notion were true, or even if modern kids believed their gifts came from Mr. Happy CokeCan, would dyeing him green really change anything?

No it would not, but sadly she's not the only person peddling incorrect information, see this book description in the NZ Herald:

Originally Posted by NZ Herald

The gospels made no mention of a donkey and Santa Claus only gained his red attire in the 1940s, but that's no reason not to enjoy Christmas, says the author of a new book.

[kitap]

I just want to point out that I work at the hotel where Haddon Sundblom did his Santa ads. They are very proud of that here.

[llewtrah]

Multi-colour robes (greens with gold, trimmed with white) have been making a comeback in some of the classier "old fashioned" (i.e. expensive) Xmas decorations in the last few years.

There was a letter in the Guardian a couple of Saturday's ago spouting the view of not wanting a red Santa because it was invented by Coca Cola. A letter last Saturday pointed out the error in the claim, but sadly didn't mention Snopes.

[ganzfeld]

Ooh! Ooh! I know a good site for things like this!
http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/santa.asp

Oh, man, I'm only four posts late, too...

[Blatherskite]

Originally Posted by Namowal

Sarah James is oversimplifying. According to Wikipedia (which, I admit, can have errors), while it's true the character was often depicted in green robes, it wasn't his exclusive look.

He wasn't always called Father Christmas, either.

[moonfall]

Here I was thinking maybe a color-blind person accidentally sewed a green Santa suit...