Coca-Cola is bringing the magic of Christmas to the nation, as the Holidays Are Coming advert is back nationwide from Friday 10th November
After joyful years of the Holidays Are Coming advert, Coca-Cola has embarked on a festive journey, unwrapping a research study that delves deep into the heartwarming sentiments of the cherished ad
Coca-Cola’s iconic Christmas ad signals the beginning of the holiday season for nearly half of Brits, with 67% finding the famous jingle gets stuck in their heads and over a third finding themselves singing it 1-3 times a day
Over half of Brits also admit that the Coca-Cola Christmas advert has the power to change their mood, and 30% feel nostalgic after watching the ad

Friday 10th November, London – Today, one of Christmas’s most loved and longest-standing festive adverts is back for the nation to enjoy, with the Coca-Cola “Holidays Are Coming” advertisement making its return.

The release of the Coca-Cola Christmas “Holidays Are Coming” advert has become an iconic holiday tradition, marking the start of the festive period. It has captivated audiences worldwide for over two decades. The heartwarming message of unity, happiness, and the spirit of giving throughout the advert is why, for the first time, Coca-Cola has conducted comprehensive research[1] exploring the sentiment of the long-standing ad, and unveiled the nation’s emotional connection to the advert and its instantly recognisable jingle.

Each year, the return of the Coca-Cola Christmas “Holidays Are Coming” advert is eagerly anticipated, marking the official start of the holiday season for 44% of Brits. The advert’s unmistakable jingle and the sight of the twinkling truck gliding through a winter wonderland have become synonymous with the start of the holiday season. This sparks a rush of nostalgia (29%), happiness (27%) and warmth (20%) that transcends generations.

The jingle has even become so iconic that two in five (38%) Brits would add it to their playlists if they could, so they could listen to it all year long, and over two-thirds (67%) say it gets stuck in their head, most commonly for up to two hours (27%). As well as kicking off the most wonderful time of the year, the Coca-Cola Christmas “Holidays Are Coming” advert makes 24% of us think of warm, cosy nights during winter and takes 22% of us back to our childhood – no wonder that over a third (35%) of Brits find themselves singing the jingle 1-3 times a day.

Its iconicity lies not only in its memorable imagery but also in its ability to evoke a collective sense of celebration and togetherness, as 16% of Brits reminisce about time spent with family and friends whenever they see the advert. As families and friends gather to watch this timeless advertisement, it serves as a reminder of the magic and wonder that this special time of year brings.

Spreading joy and holiday cheer to audiences around the globe, the beloved ad has become an indelible part of the festive season. Commenting on the research, leading Behavioural Psychologist, Jo Hemmings, said: “This new research by Coca-Cola shows the power music can have on human minds and emotions. What could be seen as a simple piece of music, in fact, has many complexities that have allowed it to remain so meaningful to so many. As soon as viewers hear the first opening bells, it instantly boosts their mood, and people may not realise that there is a much deeper meaning behind this. Known as ‘earworms’, this is where a familiar and nostalgic tune gets stuck in our mind, especially when the song is catchy and repetitive, as we’ve seen with the “Holidays Are Coming” jingle.
“This familiarity is something that bridges the gap between past and present, and with the song referencing many classically Christmas sounds, it allows consumers to feel a sense of childhood, instantly triggering one of our ‘happy hormones’, dopamine. This is a key part of our brain’s reward system and is associated with anticipation, memory, and pleasant feelings. Putting that into perspective, when the advert is played throughout the Christmas season, viewers are getting a consistent hit of dopamine, meaning their relationship with the advert gets stronger over time.”

In addition to the “Holidays are Coming” advert, Coca-Cola will also launch its new 2023 Christmas campaign, ‘The World Needs More Santas’ on 17th November in Great Britain, which celebrates the spirit of Santa Claus in all of us. The iconicity of Santa Claus serves as a symbol of kindness, generosity, and goodwill, whether it’s helping a neighbour, sharing the last Coca-Cola, or lending a hand to a stranger in need.

Elodie Peribere, Director of Marketing at Coca-Cola Great Britain, said: “We’re delighted to share our Christmas celebration plans for Great Britain, with not one but two adverts to kick-start the festive season. Our beloved ‘Holidays Are Coming’ advert will be back this year as it remains a cherished and much-loved part of Christmas for Brits. We are also delighted to launch our new advert for 2023, ‘The World Needs More Santas’, which we hope inspires consumers across the UK to find their ‘inner Santa Claus’ this festive period.”

Coca-Cola has had a longstanding affiliation with the image of Santa Claus following its initial use in Christmas adverts in the 1920s. In 1931, Coca-Cola commissioned Haddon Sundblom, a Michigan-born illustrator, to create images of Santa Claus to be worked into the brand Holiday adverts. The iconic imagery is synonymous with Coca-Cola and the originals can be found in art galleries across the world.