The American version of our modern day picture of the jolly old elf started taking shape in 1863. Harper's Weekly hired a young man by the name of Thomas Nast to illustrate pictures of Santa. His task was to feature Santa bringing gifts to Union troops during the Civil War.
I love winning sweepstakes. Especially ones I didn't enter. And ones that pay me One Million Pounds. And ones that happen in countries that I neither live in or have ever visited.
Below is an e-mail I received this morning from the good folks at "Coca Cola". (I drink Pepsi. Hey, I'm the new generation):