Besides the Super Bowl, the holiday season produces some of the best advertisements around the globe. We’re taking a walk down memory lane this week on the blog, with a few of the most memorable holiday ads in recent history. These are incredible marketing campaigns that have withstood the test of time and captured the hearts of so many. No matter your age, you are sure to have seen at least a couple of these commercials over the years.
Coca-Cola Polar Bears
Coca-Cola and polar bears go together like peanut butter and jelly. This iconic combination has become inextricably woven together in the minds of many people around the globe, since its debut in 1922. And no time is this more evident than during the holiday season. Since first airing their polar bear TV commercials in the 1990’s, Coca-Cola has continued to capitalize on their popularity, really embracing the animals as their unofficial holiday mascot.
Hershey’s Kiss Jingle Bells
Incredibly simple yet incredibly effective. Turning the Hershey’s Kisses into bells ringing the tune of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” doesn’t sound like a stroke of extraordinary creative genius, but it really resonated with viewers, and has continued to do so through the years. It’s festive, it’s simple, and it’s powerful.
M&M’s Meeting Santa
This M&M’s ad plays into the holiday season in a more humorous way than the others on this list. The original campaign was so popular that it continued to air for years to come, and was reproduced with a new twist over 20 years after its original release. It is lighthearted and fun while still capturing the excitement and awe that comes along with the holidays, especially for children.
Folger’s Peter Comes Home
Talk about tugging at the heartstrings. This classic ad from Folger’s gets at the heart of the holidays for many: being together as a family. This sweet commercial was an instant classic when it was first released, and is still talked about and remembered by many to this day.
Budweiser Clydesdales
What do you get when you combine the Budweiser Clydesdales, picture-perfect winter scenery, and gently falling snow? The recipe for a perfect holiday advertisement! The dialogue is kept to a minimum as viewers enjoy the view of the Clydesdales trotting through the snow, spreading cheer. It is a simple and quintessentially Budweiser ad.
Bonus: Kohl’s 2020
The bonus advertisement on our list is the new ad from Kohl’s for the 2020 holiday season. This ad has been getting a lot of buzz all over the internet, tugging at people’s heartstrings and really getting to the core of what 2020 has meant to so many. Who knows if this ad will stand the test of time, but it sure is making an impression for now.
