Santa Claus Has Roots in the Åland Archipelago
The cheerful, jolly, chubby and Coca-Cola-loving Santa Claus, famously drawn for Coca-Cola in the 1930's, has roots in the Åland archipelago. Now Coca-Cola’s Christmas truck has visited Åland to mark the popular Santa Claus’s Ålander heritage.
He is dressed in red and has a long, slightly curly white beard and rosy cheeks. The image of the jolly and chabby Santa Claus used by Coca-Cola since 1931 has achieved what could be described as iconic status.
But who was the artist behind this popular figure? The artist’s name was Haddon Sundblom and his family roots were in the Åland archipelago. Haddon’s father came from Föglö, a little island municipality southwest of Åland’s main island.
"Little christmas" and Christmas on Åland
Haddon himself was born in the USA, where his father had emigrated with his Swedish wife. But who knows? Perhaps Haddon was influenced by the Åland's Christmas traditions when he drew his classic Santa Claus.
Christmas is a much loved holiday in Åland, and it’s even celebrated twice – first on “Lillajul”, on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent, and then as usual on 24 December, Christmas Eve.
Lillajul is an old and cherished tradition. It’s like regular Christmas, but on a slightly smaller scale. The Christmas tree is smaller – just about a metre tall. Christmas presents for Lillajul are smaller and the Christmas buffet has fewer dishes.
Lillajul marks the start of the festive season, with the whole of December filled with Christmas markets, concerts and buffets in restaurants. On Christmas Eve, after the traditional declaration of Christmas peace, it’s time to head home, gather with family and wait for the Santa – who bears a striking resemblance to the figure Haddon drew for Coca-Cola – to knock on the door.
Santa Claus on Åland Stamps
A few years ago, Coca-Cola decided to send their Christmas truck on a journey to Mariehamn just before Christmas to honour their Santa Claus’s Ålander roots.
The people of Åland are proud of Haddon, who created over 40 different paintings of Santa Claus for Coca-Cola between 1931 and 1964. In the past, Haddon has been honoured with a stamp featuring his Santa Claus, and the Åland Museum has even organised an exhibition showcasing his memorable advertising banners.
Santa Claus's First Cruise
The Coca-Cola Christmas truck has visited over 300 places around the world in the last 20 years, but this was the first time it set off on a cruise – boarding a Viking Line ship to sail from Turku to Åland. Once it arrived, the truck travelled around, adorned with Christmas lights and Haddon’s jolly Santa Claus painted on its red trailer – a Santa who, it seemed, was especially happy to see the beautiful, wintry archipelago landscape!
