It's here, Christmas is coming. The number of unopened windows in the advent calendar is suspiciously decreasing. Town centres are jammed with stalls and overrun with people. Houses are decorated with Christmas lights and, in at least one street, a tacky Santa hangs from the windows bearing presents. And while it may feel like we're the Grinch of this Christmas, make no mistake, even here at P&P Media we have twinkling chains hanging in our windows. Christmas can't pass any of us by, not even our Bystro. So get yourself a classic drink, perhaps a mulled wine, and join us for a look at Christmas from a slightly different, sarcastic, angle.
Where did Santa Claus come from?
There is a legend among the people that today's image of Santa Claus was created by the Coca-Cola company. In fact, this is not the case. In fact, Coca-Cola has only made him famous and gotten him into children's heads so intensely that Baby Jesus can go slide. White hair, red clothes and reindeer, that's how Santa was portrayed back in the first half of the 19th century. But it wasn't until 1915 that Mr. Claus got a job in advertising, when the American soft drink manufacturer White Rock chose him for its campaign. It wasn't until 1931 that he got the exact look he has today for Coca-Cola. Since then, we haven't found out much about Santa, except that he's an avid smoker.
The bell rang and I bought a voucher
If you're the kind of person who leaves gifts to the last minute, you have two options: to go to the mall completely self-destructively or buy a voucher. The voucher will arrive in the mail, and you don't have to bite your nails watching the ordered package that will probably arrive at your neighbor's house on December 27. Buying a voucher may seem like the best solution in the end, but be careful which one you choose. After all, there are vouchers that could thicken the Christmas atmosphere by making you slice it instead of the apple. More money for less joy!
Carp at any price
Potato salad and carp. Something like Harry and Marv from Home Alone, Christmas Eve and The Mouseketeers, or Zeman and Becherovka, in short, a couple who must be together for Christmas. Lately, people have been replacing carp with other, perhaps tastier, fish. It could be zander, salmon or grass carp. But what if you want to keep the tradition, but you don't like fish? Don't worry, we live in the 21st century, everything can be solved. How about pork carp? That's such a nice, purely Czech product.
Vintage inspiration
Looking for a gift for someone in your family who has everything? Dad, grandpa, brother or maybe a son? Let's go back in time a bit and look to America, the land of unlimited possibilities, for inspiration. Back in the days when there were no computer games, playstations, iPhones or endless amounts of Lego kits, more "traditional" gifts were common. Like wooden kits or guns. Yes you heard right, guns for every member of the family.
Milker at the end
There is probably no more moving time of the year than Christmas. Companies are racing to see whose ad will be the first to fill the valley of tears, and tissue manufacturers are washing their hands. We've got the king of all ad impressions for you. The '1914' advert was made by Sainsbury's in 2014 to mark the centenary of the so-called Christmas Truce. For those who missed it in history lessons, the Christmas Truce took place in 1914, it was unofficial, it took place on the Western Front during Christmas and it has become a symbol of humanity and humanity. Now you're thinking, how tacky is it to use war to sell food and drink? You can be quietly moved again, all the profits from the sale of the chocolate bar featured in the advert went to the Royal British Legion (a charity for veterans of the British armed forces and their families). One unimportant piece of information in conclusion, the whole advert cost £20.5 million.
On behalf of the entire Pen&Production team, we wish you a pleasant and relaxing Christmas. Few bones in the pork capers, no guns and a successful start to the year.
