School drops red Santa in Coke protest

A school is forcing Santa Claus to wear a green suit this year – in case his traditional red costume reminds children of Coca-Cola adverts.

It claims Santa's image has become too commercial and want pupils to learn about his origins instead of sitting on his lap and asking for the latest toy.

The school's 200 pupils, aged from three to 16, will instead be greeted by a green-suited, slipper-wearing Father Christmas at its festive bazaar.

Sarah James, spokeswoman for the Steiner School in Brighton, said: 'The red-suited Santa was created as a marketing tool by Coca-Cola, it is a symbol of commercialism.

'We are not trying to be a spoilsport or anything like that. The children are bound to come across Santa Claus plenty of times in the run-up to Christmas and we're happy for them to. We just want the bazaar to give them a different experience.'
But some parents are happy for their children to meet the 'commercial' Santa. Mother-of-two Cheryl Williams, 24, said: 'What a load of nonsense. What are they going to ban next, snow? Once again the PC brigade has clamped down on everyone's fun.'