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Monday, December 2, 2024

How the Coca Cola Company Gave Us Santa Claus and Elevated the Christmas Holiday

I've never been on Facebook and I've stopped using X, the social media site that used to be known as Twitter but has turned into a cesspool of nazism and racist hate under the ownership of Elon Musk. But I do enjoy TikTok, whose algorithms provide me with interesting video clips that closely match my interests. TikTok recently introduced me to a fellow named Roy Casagranda, a professor of government at Austin Community College in Texas. Casagranda delivers regular public lectures on a host of historical and political topics, and while he has a tendency to overly simplify complex issues, he's a fascinating speaker who holds my interest and makes me think.

When I looked at TikTok this morning I discovered a video from Dr. Casagranda about the origins of Santa Claus and the role of the Coca Cola Company in shaping America's celebration of Christmas. I don't know that this is the full story, but it sure has a ring of truth about it, and I think it's probably worth a listen:


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