10 Best Christmas Commercials Ever


It's a very special time of year, and advertisers know it: The best holiday commercials grab on to your heartstrings and yank with all their might. And because we allow for these kinds of emotional manipulations in December (or maybe just because we're super stressed-out from shopping?), the best Christmas commercials stay with us for years. After polling Twitter and Facebook, we've collected the very best Christmas commercials from the last few decades as decided by you, Internet. Did we get 'em right?
1. Folgers' ORIGINAL Version of "Peter Comes Home"


Who doesn't love and remember this commercial? It doesn't matter where Peter was (college? Peace Corps? His girlfriend's house?), it just matters that he made it home in time for Christmas, despite the bad weather conditions. And it must be said: hands-down, this is about a zillion times better than the re-make, which came out last year. The remake features a cheesier Peter (who was in Africa but seems to think "real" coffee should be instant and from a can? They edited out the part where he says "Ahh, REAL coffee"...) and a very uncomfortable brother-sister relationship. 

Much like the remake of Miracle on 34th Street, we'll just forget the new one exists, and stick with the original.

2. Norelco Becomes "Noelco"


Of all the Christmas commercials out there, I'm not entirely sure why this series from Norelco was so etched in people's memories, but it was. Apparently Santa riding into town on an electric razor is...magical. Enjoy this commercial just for the absurdity of 70s electronics.

3. Because Nothing Says "Merry Christmas" Like Beer


Even though the best Budweiser Clydesdale commercials have aired during the Superbowl, something about giant horses galloping through the snow says The Holidays Have Arrived.

4. The Invisible Scotch Tape Man


I remember this commercial from when I was very young, and because I wasn't entirely clear on the whole Christmas-Jesus-Presents-Santa connections (and understood "God" to be "invisible") I thought that the Scotch Tape man here was, well, God. One heckuva corporate spokesperson if you ask me.

5. Campbell's Soup Melting Snowman


Simple and charming -- and not actually specific to Christmas at all -- this commercial is a great (and rare) example of special effects used in an understated way. Easy to understand why it's a favorite.



6. Hershey's Kisses Ringing "We With You A Merry Christmas"


Speaking of special effects put to charming use, this commercial first aired at least 15 years ago. But it never gets old.

7. The Hallmark Commercial Where the Older Brother Comes Home Just in Time to Sing with the Younger Brother


Everything about this commercial is saccharine and contrived and yet I'm a weepy mess by the end of it every stupid time I watch. It's definitely a not-as-powerful version of "Peter comes home" (maybe because it's two-plus minutes long?), and begs the question "why are there two Christmas commercials featuring siblings born at least ten years apart?" but whatever. It's hankie-inducing premise gave this commercial a leg up over the Fruity Pebbles one.

8. Any of This Year's Hilarious Target Commercials


Dozens of folks thought this commercial series worth mentioning, even though they're new. Probably because the heroine (Bay Area comedian Maria Bamford) simultaneously makes fun of holiday shopping insanity while sort of inspiring us to do it with more gusto.

9. The Coca-Cola Polar Bears


Has anyone ever asked, "What do polar bears have to do with Coke?" or pointed out that "Polar bears neither drink Coke nor celebrate Christmas?" No. And that's because everyone's far too busy being delighted by the adorable, white, furry CGI creatures and their Coke-drinking antics. Especially at Christmastime. For no reason.

10. I'd Like To Buy The World A Coke


For anyone old enough to remember this commercial, it was kind of epic. Hippie candle-holders on a hillside singing a song about peace, love, and Coca-Cola somehow embody the simplest ideas of "Christmas spirit" and corporate sponsorship in a perfect tree-shaped package.

In fact, the Christmas Coke song became such a big hit that it showed up in places other than this commercial...like the radio, and even my piano book of Christmas carols in the early 80s. (To be fair, this piano book ALSO included the song, "What Can You Get A Wookie For Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb)" from the Star Wars Christmas Album which I am not making up. The album further includes the song "R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas" performed by a then-unknown rocker named Jon Bongiovi, who later changed his name to Jon Bon Jovi).

And that's the round-up of the best and most favoritest Christmas commercials of all time. Did we get them right? Did we miss any classics? Let us know, and share your links!

======================================================================== Clever Girls Collective is a social media marketing agency founded by women who wanted to use their deep marketing experience and broad social network relationships for good. We know that women who engage in social media are some of the most authentic, connected, trusted, and vocal influencers -- not only online, but "in real life." That's why we've developed The Clever 1000: an ever-growing, beautifully diverse network of professional, thoughtful social media-connected, natural networkers and influencers who want to engage with and enhance their favorite brands. Kristy Sammis is a humor-life-mommy-blogger who's been actively engaged in the social media world since she learned she could use IM to talk to boys in 1993. She is an early adopter, online influencer, and types very, very quickly. Prior to joining the Clever Girls, Kristy managed BlogHer's marketing and events, which included running the largest blogging conference in the world in 2007. Now a WAHM, Kristy is online as much as ever. Following a hilarious series of reader-submitted photos on her personal blog, She Just Walks Around With It, she decided the world needed a website devoted entirely to "awesome" prom pictures and launched Promtacular!  Kristy lives in Napa with her husband and daughter, whose birth she live-Tweeted. You can follow her @kristysf.