By: Amelia Wolfe
After our end-of-the-year celebration at the Christkindl Market in downtown Grand Rapids, we are fully in the holiday spirit. It is December, we have had hot cocoa, we have seen enough twinkly lights to last us until next winter, and we are thinking about Christmas advertising. Because honestly? Holiday ads hit different.
To kick off the season, here are Ad Club’s Top 5 Christmas — the ones that live rent-free in our heads every December.
Coca-Cola — “Holidays Are Coming”
This is one of the most famous holiday ads ever created. When the big red Coca-Cola trucks drive through the snowy towns, and the music starts, it automatically feels like Christmas. The ad has been around since 1995, and the consistency of this campaign keeps it iconic.
Hershey’s — “Holiday Bells”
This is the simple but legendary ad where the Hershey’s Kisses ring like handbells. It is only fifteen seconds long, but it plays every single year and never gets old. Everyone knows exactly what it is the second it starts.
M&M’s — “He Does Exist!”
A perfect mix of humor and brand personality, this ad has become a holiday staple since the ’90s. Santa and the M&M’s fainting at the same time is a moment burned into collective memory, and its reappearance each year has made it a multi-generational favorite. It’s witty, lighthearted, and captures exactly what makes M&M’s branding so effective.
Amazon — “Joy Ride”
Joy Ride is one of the more recent holiday ads and one of my personal favorites. It shows three older friends who see kids sledding and decide to try it themselves, using Amazon to order seat cushions so they can ride comfortably. Watching them laugh and relive their childhood makes the ad feel warm, nostalgic, and really sweet. The music adds to the emotional holiday vibe, which is why so many people loved it.
Spotify — “Wrapped”
Spotify Wrapped is not a typical Christmas ad, but it basically takes over the internet every December, so it totally counts. Every year, Spotify shows users surprising stats about what they listened to over the year, and people cannot stop sharing them on social media. It is super relatable, really personal, and fun to see what your friends were obsessed with. Gen Z loves it because it feels like a mix of humor, nostalgia, and online culture all in one. Even though it is digital and not on TV, it definitely feels like a holiday tradition for a lot of people.
Wrapping Up the Holiday Cheer!
From emotional moments to ads that make us laugh, these five ads are the ones most of us instantly recognize when December rolls around. They remind us why holiday advertising is actually really fun to pay attention to.
Happy Holidays from Ad Club, and enjoy the rest of the Christmas season!
Because things get real, real fast. 