Have a Coke with Santa Claus

For years, the rumour has persisted that Coca-Cola invented Father Christmas. After all, Father Christmas has been appearing in the brand colours red and white for decades. In fact, however, Dutch immigrants got the ball rolling with their "Sinterklaas" custom. In America, Sinterklaas, who is based on St. Nicholas of Myra, then gradually became Santa Claus. In 1931, the American artist Haddon Sundblom created the image of the chubby-cheeked, bearded and probably obese man with which the American soft drink company advertises at Christmas time and which has shaped the typical Father Christmas image of many people.

In 1997, the Coca-Cola Christmas trucks rolled along German roads for the first time. In many people's minds, this event is linked to the song "Wonderful Dream (Holidays are Coming)" from the Coca-Cola TV commercial.

Winderwonderland on the town hall square

This year, the iconic Coca-Cola trucks are coming to Hann. Münden for the first time. On Tuesday, 10.12.2019, they will roll into the historic old town and will be on Hann. Münden's Rathausplatz from 3pm to 8pm. But the trucks themselves are by no means everything: the red and white trucks will be accompanied by a winter wonderland for all the senses that is sure to make your eyes wide. Festive lights, Christmas scents and unique experiences await visitors. With the help of VR glasses, visitors can take a virtual sleigh ride. An oversized walk-through snow globe offers the perfect opportunity for a souvenir photo. A visit to Santa's parlour is also part of the programme. Meeting Father Christmas for once - that's sure to be a great experience for real Christmas fans! I might as well take the opportunity to present Santa with my wish list in person.

A feast for PS fans

As a pre-Christmas gift, there is also a personalised Coca-Cola bottle with your own name for everyone who wants one. The trucks, each with 470 hp, 18 gears and a displacement of 13 litres, are the highlight par excellence for car fans young and old. The trucks weigh about 18 tonnes and are 16.5 metres long.  Since I've never seen the Coca-Cola trucks live, I'm really looking forward to this event and I'm curious to see how the bright red trucks will look in front of the half-timbered backdrop at the Rathausplatz. Even though I stopped believing in Father Christmas a long time ago, I'm sure that the event will take even taller visitors back to their childhood and make them wide-eyed.

American Style Christmas

For me, the Coca-Cola trucks certainly bring back memories of my holiday in 2014, when I visited New York in the run-up to Christmas. Admittedly - the typical American Christmas spectacle is a bit kitschy, but a little bit of kitsch is allowed at Christmas time, isn't it?

The Coca-Cola Christmas trucks are visiting ten cities this year. Hann. Münden and Uelzen will be the only two stops in Lower Saxony. After visiting Santa Claus and his motorised sleigh, you can warm up with a hot drink at the nearby Old Town Christmas Market on the church square.