Heart Strings for the Holidays
Blame it on Charlie.
It’s that time of year again when many of us tend to be a little more kind, little more thoughtful and a lot more sentimental. History reveals all the gift-giving, family celebrations, seasonal cheer and boozy office parties owes its roots to a single writer who was bothered by what he saw in Victorian-era, 19th century England. The Industrial Revolution was in high gear. Rapid population growth in cities like London led to severe overcrowding and inhumane living conditions. While the rich luxuriated and counted their coin, lower classes toiled in smoky factories and mills working long days for harsh, unforgiving bosses.
Up until 1843, working on Christmas Day was just part of the normal routine. In between writing projects and in desperate need of a few extra shillings, Charlie toiled furiously over a six-week period, developing the characters of Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley and Tiny Tim. The hastily conceived project was completed – just in the St. Nick of time.
“A Christmas Carol” was an instant smash throughout the British Empire. It’s how Christmas, as we know it, came to be.
The beliefs of an entire planet were forever changed through the magical, fantastical ideas of one man with an iron will and sturdy quill. Charlie single-handedly created holiday enchantment and sacred traditions we cherish to this day. Not a corporation, doctor, scientist or politician. Not a rock star, superstar athlete, celebrity actor, advertising agency or social media ‘influencer’.
Charles Dickens wielded his mighty pen to shine a light on the plight of the poor and the exploitation of children. His efforts established a legacy that lives on in the form of our favourite Christmas commercials. Thanks to Dickens, we get to enjoy these unique Yuletide messages that touch many universal emotions.
What are the Five Greatest Christmas Commercials of all time? Unwrap this carefully curated digital gift called Heart Strings For The Holidays on this festive edition of Leaders & Legends.
“Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more”
Christmas has become a time for generosity, reconciliation, charity and a significant increase in commercial activity. It’s that special time of year when cash registers ring merrily like jingle bells. For many small businesses, December is the most profitable month of the year, making up many lean ones. It’s also the perfect time for brands big and small to generate even more awareness, earn public trust and capitalize on the seasonal spike in warm, fuzzy feelings of family, tradition and goodwill. You would be correct in saying the fine line between a shameless commercial and a heartfelt message is often as thin as a Christmas card.
Borrowing from the original masterpiece created by Charles Dickens, the very best Christmas ads feature compelling stories with relatable characters, a narrative arc and pack an emotional punch that lands deep in our hearts. For eleven months of the calendar year, adverts are an annoyance. An unwelcome intruder (especially when watching YouTube videos!) or chance to leap from the couch during the two-minute warning and grab a beer and a sandwich. Christmas ads, however, are different. Just like the Grinch - whose heart grew three sizes that day - we tend to welcome heart-warming stories that reflect the true meaning of Christmas.
In descending order, here are the Five Greatest Christmas Commercials!
#5
APPLE – ‘Heart Strings’
The brand that became the darling of the hipster crowd, has embraced family values with a poignant message about their new AirPods.
#4
CHEVROLET - ‘A Holiday To Remember’
The auto manufacturer delivers a beautifully crafted narrative that resonates deeply with families affected by Alzheimer's and dementia.
#3
WESTJET - ‘Christmas Miracle’
The Canadian airline delighted 250 passengers and the entire world in 2013 with a story of 150 employees who played the role of Santa’s elves to the hilt. And true to fashion, WestJet has expanded on the tradition this year, with a story that ties into the brand’s new messaging - "Where Your Story Takes Off."
#2
SAINSBURY - ‘Christmas 1914’
The second-largest supermarket chain in the United Kingdom went over the top with this story of a young English solider who dared to leave his trench and enter No Man’s Land during World War I. A moment of personal connection with the enemy turns into something much more, especially the young German soldier discovers his new British friend has hidden the gift of a chocolate bar in his pocket.
#1
And the top spot for the Greatest Christmas Commercial of all time ….. comes from a small village in Wales ….drum roll please …..
HAFOD HARDWARE – ‘Forever Young’
In the small Welsh town of Rhayader, an otherwise ordinary hardware store has created its own BIG LITTLE LEGEND. With a population of just over 2,000, Rhayader has the highest number of pubs, per capita in the UK, however, the town became internationally famous with this two-minute Christmas video starring the owner’s two-year-old son, Arthur. Tens of millions have already watched and millions more will watch this video in the future, which was made with a production budget of only £100.
What would be your all-time favourite Christmas Commercials and why? Be sure to let us know in the comments section and include the video links so other readers can take a look and weigh in. As you can imagine, it’s nearly impossible to limit this list to only five commercials, however there is another one from Europe that deserves an honourable mention. It’s about a German grandfather and it left the internet in tears after it was released in 2020 by a Dutch mail-order pharmacy.
With the Christmas season upon us, I hope you are taking a well-deserved break to be with family, loved ones and enjoy time in the great outdoors. Happy Holidays and looking forward to sharing Leaders & Legends with you again in 2025.
“For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself”
- CHARLES DICKENS
p.s…. The ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future became the stuff legends are made of. That’s why the Charles Dickens story keeps improving with age when you see what a copy of ‘A Christmas Carol’ fetched at a recent auction.
READ: https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/the-enduring-legacy-of-charles-dickens-and-a-christmas-carol
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