... santa is the real thing ...

At the tender age of 49 my Christmas was ruined when I was told that the real reason that Santa's coat was red - was because of a Coca Cola adverting campaign in the late thirties - green didn't go well with the red of the cola label or the look of the drink.

However a great eccentric on the BBC TV breakfast show has put my mind at rest. In Victorian times the British post man wore a red cloak and on many Victorian Christmas cards - Santa was portrayed as red as opposed to green or blue on continental Europe. Interestingly the nickname for postmen was robins - which was how the link between the robin and Christmas developed.

He also told the tale of St Nicholas - the origin of Santa Claus - who was always dressed in green - and how he helped a landowner down on his luck - by giving a bag of gold - for a dowry - for each of his daughters - just before they were to be married. The first two he was able to throw the bag through the window - but for the third one - the window was locked - so he climbed up on the roof - dropped the bag down the chimney - and it was found the next day in the girl's stocking - hung up to dry near the fireplace.

So Christmas has been restored for me.