The Coca-Cola Company is one of the most recognizable brands in the world. Its advertising has long been associated with festivity and celebration. Coca-Cola has a history of exceptional advertising around the Super Bowl.
The Story of 18th Avenue: A San Francisco Christmas Tradition
In San Francisco's Outside Lands, a unique Christmas tradition unfolded on the 2600 block of 18th Avenue. Beginning around 1936, the residents of this one-block stretch between Vicente and Wawona transformed their homes into a dazzling spectacle of holiday lights and decorations every Christmas.
The Spark of an Idea
The tradition began when the first houses were built in the area. As more houses were constructed, everyone joined in, creating a unified and festive display. According to Frank Dunnigan, a longtime resident of the block, the tradition was born out of a desire for community and celebration. In the 1930s, the Sunset District was still sparsely populated, and car ownership wasn't universal. People wanted to come together and celebrate Christmas with others.
The neighbors decided to host an event, traditionally held on the second Saturday of December, featuring Santa's arrival. Every home was adorned with a Christmas tree and outdoor lights, and Santa would arrive on a fire engine, courtesy of Station 40 at 18th and Rivera, marking the beginning of the celebration. Thousands of people would visit 18th Avenue to witness the holiday decorations and lights.
Community Effort and Ingenuity
The residents of 18th Avenue demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness and community spirit. Cal and Doris Meagher, original homeowners in the 1930s, played a key role in organizing the holiday lighting tradition. They saved letters outlining the night lighting ceremony, along with names and phone numbers of people who could help with light frame installation.
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Neighbors helped each other, offering assistance with putting up light frames and even plugging in lights for those who were away. The light frames themselves were custom-made to fit around each house's front window, creating a uniform look. Rather than simply hanging a string of lights from hooks, the neighbors built custom-made frames that would fit around each house's front window. The lights had a very uniform look. They weren't just dangling; they were mounted on a frame. People added to that over the years. Homeowners built additional frames to outline their garage door, the entrance to the front steps, and balconies.
Many houses had built-in ironing boards. As time went on, those became passé, and virtually everybody turned them into a spice rack, a knickknack shelf in the kitchen, or additional storage for canned goods.
The Arrival of Santa and Open Houses
Santa's arrival was a highlight of the evening. At 6:00 PM, the sound of sirens and the sight of flashing lights signaled Santa's approach on a fire engine. As Santa arrived, everyone would plug in their lights simultaneously, creating a spectacular display of light.
After the lights went on and Santa arrived, the designated "mayor and first lady" of the block would host Santa in their home, receiving hundreds of children. The mayor and first lady's house transformed into Santa's workshop. Each family held an open house, inviting neighbors to come in for drinks, snacks, and a closer look at their Christmas trees.
Decorations and Festive Treats
The decorations on 18th Avenue were diverse and reflected the unique tastes of each household. Some people favored red and green alternating lights, while others opted for peppermint-themed red and white lights or multicolored displays. Some people had lights that would blink. Many Jewish neighbors would put up a Star of David with alternating blue and white blinking lights.
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The holiday season also brought an abundance of festive treats. The Herrerias family, who were from Mexico, made tamales and hot chocolate. Everybody in the block was a baker. Neighbors exchanged paper plates of Christmas cookies.
The Legacy of 18th Avenue
The tradition of Christmas lights on 18th Avenue created lasting memories and a strong sense of community. The children who grew up on the block developed a love for Christmas and often went "over the top" with their own decorations and entertaining.
Although the original organizers and participants are no longer with us, their legacy lives on through their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Coke Zero and the Ugly Christmas Sweater
Coca-Cola is known for its marketing, and in 2013, Coke Zero launched an online "Sweater Generator" campaign. This campaign invited users to design their own "ugly Christmas sweaters" and share them on social media.
The campaign combined user-generated content, giveaways, and shareability.
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A Century of Marketing Magic: Coca-Cola's Enduring Appeal
Coca-Cola has built a reputation through decades of advertising, content, and creative ideas. The brand champions a universal set of values such as equality and happiness.
Coca-Cola partnered with the Red Cross during World War I, increasing exposure in Europe. Coke's Happiness Machines build on the company's core branding message. Coke sneaked into a college campus to surprise students with a dose of happiness.
Coca-Cola Zero: A History of Rebranding and Flavors
Coca-Cola Zero was initially marketed to men, who associated "diet" drinks with women. In the US, advertising for Coca-Cola Zero described the drink as "calorie-free" rather than "diet."
Originally, Coca-Cola Zero product packaging consisted of the Coca-Cola logo in red script with white trim, with the word "zero" underneath, on a black background.
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Flavors
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar with cherry flavor
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar with additional vanilla flavor
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar without caffeine (formerly marketed as "Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola Zero Sugar")
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar with additional lemon flavor
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar with peach flavor
- A 'clear' version of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, with a hint of extra lemon
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar with extra cinnamon flavor
- Coca-Cola Stevia No Sugar was a variant that used stevia as its sole sweetener.
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar with ingredients found in other Energy Drinks
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar with cherry and vanilla flavors
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar with mango flavor
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar with a Lemon and Lime flavor
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar flavored with watermelon and strawberry
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar with a mystery "transformation" flavor, also branded Coca-Cola Movement in some markets
- Coca-Cola Zero Sugar with a mystery "+XP" flavor