North Korea is one of only two countries in the world where Coca-Cola cannot officially be produced or sold. (The other is Cuba; Russia was added more recently after the company left that market.) Even so, a fair amount of Coca-Cola is sold in the country. The drinks are imported from China and can be bought only in “premium” grocery stores.

Long before The Coca-Cola Company created the Santa Claus we know today, Saint Nicholas already appeared in many illustrations and articles dressed in bright red. Even so, Coca-Cola advertising played a decisive part in shaping the cheerful character we know and love.

In 1931, the Swedish-American illustrator Haddon Sundblom was commissioned to paint Santa Claus for The Coca-Cola Company’s Christmas advertising. Until then, Santa had been depicted in many different ways — tall, thin, short, or even frightening. Sundblom was the first to portray him with rosy cheeks, a white beard, twinkling eyes and a smiling face, describing him as “a warm and joyful figure”. This image captivated the public, and as the advertising spread around the world, it transformed the way people pictured the North Pole’s most famous resident.

Coca-Cola advertising played a major part in shaping the endearing, cheerful Santa Claus we know today.

The friendly, warm-hearted Santa Claus was first painted by the Swedish-American illustrator Haddon Sundblom for The Coca-Cola Company’s Christmas advertising. His paintings for Coca-Cola showed Santa with rosy cheeks, a white beard, twinkling eyes and a bright smile, portraying him as a warm and joyful figure.