20 Holiday Advertising Campaigns That Revolutionized Marketing

Holiday advertising has brought some of history’s most iconic and transformative marketing campaigns, fusing creativity, emotion, and cultural relevance. From Coca-Cola’s Santa Claus to John Lewis’ heartwarming Christmas stories, these campaigns captured the festive spirit and redefined how brands connect with their audiences. By tapping into nostalgia, innovation, and the universal joy of giving, they set new benchmarks for storytelling and seasonal marketing success.

1. Coca-Cola’s Santa Claus (1931)

Ralf Roletschek from Wikimedia Commons

Coca-Cola changed the image of Santa Claus with its 1931 campaign, featuring a jolly, red-suited Santa drawn by Haddon Sundblom. The warm, friendly figure became the global archetype for Santa, linking Coke to holiday cheer. It showed the power of branding by associating products with iconic imagery.

2. John Lewis Christmas Ads (2010-Present)

Philafrenzy from Wikimedia Commons

The UK retailer’s heart-wrenching ads, like “The Bear and the Hare,” symbolized a story of emotional depth. Paired with an iconic song, John Lewis’s advertisements crafted a cultural phenomenon, proving the worth of tapping into nostalgia and emotional resonance during the holiday season.

3. Hershey’s Kisses Bells (1989)

Kfarren23 from Wikimedia Commons

Hershey’s Kisses rang into our hearts with a simple, timeless commercial of chocolates performing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” as bells. The minimalist approach made it instantly recognizable and unforgettable. This campaign proved that simplicity and repetition can create enduring holiday traditions.

4. Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (1924)

Elisa Rolle from Wikimedia Commons

The parade was initially created to get people into the holiday shopping mood and make Macy’s a premier destination for Christmas purchases. It eventually became a treasured national event, enhancing the store’s brand identity. Thus, it combined entertainment and advertising for the first time to spearhead experiential holiday advertising.

5. Starbucks Holiday Cups (1997)

Marco Paköeningrat from Wikimedia Commons

Starbucks’ red holiday cups transformed a mundane product into an annual symbol, creating buzz and controversy. Every new design encourages discussion and free advertising, stimulating foot traffic and sales. This demonstrated the strength of limited-edition products and seasonal exclusivity.

6. WestJet’s Christmas Miracle (2013)

Ken Fielding from Wikimedia Commons

WestJet surprised passengers with personalized gifts delivered at their destinations after they shared their holiday wishes before boarding. This heartwarming stunt combined technology and generosity to create viral marketing magic. The campaign demonstrated how acts of kindness can amplify brand loyalty.

7. Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments (1973)

Andrew Szoeke from Wikimedia Commons

Hallmark introduced collectible ornaments that soon became a holiday tradition. By linking their product to personal memories and family traditions, Hallmark created an emotional connection that will last a lifetime. This underlined the power of product personalization during holidays.

8. Budweiser Clydesdales Holiday Ads (1980s)

Indrajit Das from Wikimedia Commons

Budweiser’s Clydesdales pulling sleighs along snow-covered landscapes became symbolic of holiday warmth. A line of nostalgia and Americana, the focus maintained its classic beer persona while reinforcing the image.

9. Apple “Share Your Gifts” (2018)

Rob Janoff from Wikimedia Commons

This animated ad encourages viewers to share their creativity with loved ones, blending product features with an emotional message. Using Pixar-like animation and a moving story, Apple reinforced its brand as a source of inspiration. It demonstrated how storytelling can subtly showcase product functionality.

10. Sainsbury’s WWI Christmas Truce Ad (2014)

Richard Croft from Wikimedia Commons

Sainsbury’s recreated the Christmas Truce 1914 in a poignant ad that honored the spirit of peace and giving. The campaign sparked conversations about history while subtly promoting the brand. It highlighted the power of tying brand messages to broader cultural moments.

11. “Got Milk?” Cookies for Santa (1993)

NIAID from Wikimedia Commons

The “Got Milk?” campaign expanded its reach by reminding people that even Santa needs milk with his cookies. The humorous, relatable ads kept milk top-of-mind during the holidays. This campaign showed how to link everyday products with seasonal traditions.

12. Elf Yourself by OfficeMax (2006)

otisfrog from Wikimedia Commons

OfficeMax’s interactive “Elf Yourself” campaign allowed users to upload photos to create personalized dancing elves. The campaign quickly went viral, generating millions of shares and unparalleled engagement. It improved the use of user-generated content for brand promotion.

13. Nordstrom’s Holiday Window Displays (1930s-Present)

Baron Maddock from Wikimedia Commons

Nordstrom made window shopping a sensory experience with lavish, themed holiday displays. The artistic spectacles drew crowds and created a buzz, reinforcing the image of the high-quality brand. This demonstration of how visual merchandising can change a brand’s perception demonstrates how visual merchandising can change a brand’s perception.

14. Amazon’s Singing Boxes (2018)

Amazon.com, Inc. from Wikimedia Commons

Amazon’s boxes “sang” holiday tunes in a cheerful ad campaign celebrating their role in spreading joy worldwide. The playful, memorable campaign highlighted the brand’s logistical prowess. It showed how to personify services in a relatable, holiday-themed way.

15. Cadbury’s Secret Santa (2018)

TheNuggeteer from Wikimedia Commons

Cadbury’s Secret Santa campaign encouraged people to send chocolate to their friends and family anonymously. By blurring tradition with surprise, the campaign invited consumer-direct engagement and stressed the importance of experiential marketing in the gifting process.

16. Coca-Cola’s Polar Bears (1993)

Andreas Weith from Wikimedia Commons

Coca-Cola animated polar bears enjoying a bottle of Coke in snowy scenes, capturing the innocence of holiday joy. This campaign universally connected the brand to family-friendly festivities, proving the lasting power of animated mascots in holiday advertising.

17. Marks & Spencer’s “Magic and Sparkle” (2006)

Sebastiandoe5 from Wikimedia Commons

This UK retailer’s campaign used spellbinding stories with celebrities and high production value. In linking their products to the “magic” of Christmas, M&S made it the go-to choice for those seeking premium holiday purchases. It was an excellent example of how aspirational marketing can spur sales for a specific season.

18. LEGO’s “Rebuild the World” Holiday Edition (2019)

Benjamin D. Esham from Wikimedia Commons

LEGO encouraged families to create their holiday magic through imaginative building. The ad highlighted the joy of creativity and bonding during the festive season. It demonstrated how brands can inspire through empowerment rather than direct selling.

19. The Gap’s “Crazy Stripe” (2014)

Mr.ちゅらさん from Wikimedia Commons

Gap’s campaign celebrated individuality and togetherness with colorful knitwear and upbeat dance sequences. It refreshed the brand image while bringing in inclusivity during the holidays. This campaign exemplified how fashion brands can use vibrant visuals to boost relevance.

20. Pepsi’s “Gift It Forward” (2020)

PepsiCo, Inc. from Wikimedia Commons

Pepsi encouraged its fans to “gift it forward” by giving away cash prizes to help others during the holiday season. The campaign engaged the spirit of giving by enabling participation through social media. It clearly showed the power of digital media in amplifying holiday campaigns.

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• Christmas
• advertising
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• culture