Holiday Advertising

Oh my gosh I almost forgot to give you my annual gift – the best Holiday Commercials I could find.

During this most unusual holiday, advertisers worldwide got the memo — not only is money tight for countless families, but 2020 has left exactly no one in a holly, jolly mood. So many of this year’s holiday ads convey the message that Christmas isn’t about extravagant presents or big get-togethers; it’s about the little moments shared with the ones you love.

Turn up your sound, expand to full screen and enjoy these ads – from me to you! Happy and Safe Holidays everyone.

This German ad for a pharmacy has gone viral, and for good reason: A grandfather’s weightlifting regimen isn’t just a vanity project, as the final moments of this ad reveals. (Translated from German, the tagline at the end reads, “So that you can take care of what really matters in life.”)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQdLD6kk960&feature=emb_logo

When a young ballerina’s performance is canceled due to COVID, her little sister ensures that with the help of neighbors the dancer can put on a (socially distanced) performance. Oh, and also with the help of some Amazon purchases, of course.

https://youtu.be/63o9tgPK9r8

In this ad, the North Pole elves convince Santa — played by Steve Carell — to “rethink their whole approach” to Christmas this year (unsaid reason: the pandemic) to find inventive ways to spread the holiday spirit. From Santa team Zoom calls to the bottling of things such as grandpa’s old stories, the elves find a way. “This year has been harder than ever,” Santa tells them and, really, he’s telling us, “and yet, you all found a way to pull this off.”

In this animated commercial from Erste, a Central European financial services company, the elderly, and unhappy, Edgar seemingly prefers to spend time alone in his room, until a loving caretaker finds a way to bring his past into the present. What does it have to do with financial services? Nothing – in the Advertising business that’s called “borrowed interest”

In this over-the-top Coke ad, a father forgets to mail his daughter’s letter to Santa Claus, so he sets off on an epic journey to hand deliver the letter to the North Pole… only to realize that his daughter wants something only he can give.

https://youtu.be/rqlgWXgOa_c

Speaking of kids with heartwarming wish lists, the young girl in this ad just wants to see her friend and neighbor who has suddenly disappeared. But the woman comes back again on Christmas, hospital bracelet around her wrist, and smiles all around.

https://youtu.be/7tbx9HN3qk8

And now for something completely different: Capital One spokesperson Samuel L. Jackson reunites with Pulp Fiction costar John Travolta in this ad, with Travolta playing a Jolly St. Nick who puts Samuel on the naughty list for his naughty words.

The starry-eyed granddaughter in this sad, yet poignant animated short proves it’s never too late connect with loved ones — or to put old traditions in a new light.

https://youtu.be/Juv2c0xgGno

The U.K.’s Waitrose supermarket chain (formerly John Lewis) is well known for pulling out the grand gestures for its Christmas ads. This year, though, it focuses on small moments — a chain of random acts of kindness that spreads holiday cheer. As always, the ad is beautifully produced, if slightly strange.