The 8 Most Iconic Holiday Commercials That Bring All of the Holiday Nostalgia
It's called the most wonderful time of the year for a reason. The month of December evokes all the wonderful memories of past holidays. Of course, sitting by the fire, sipping from a cup of hot cocoa, and watching Christmas movies is a tradition many people enjoy every year, but seasonal flicks aren't the only nostalgic entertainment. The holidays are a time when companies step up their advertising game and release some of the best commercials of the year. Some ads are funny, a few are heartwarming, and a couple of them might even make you shed a tear. In fact, some of these advertisements are so classic that they continue to play every year, decades after their first premiere. Grab your favorite holiday treat and settle into these beloved Christmas ads.
"Christmas Bells" by Hershey Company
A favorite holiday candy mixed with a classic Christmas carol makes the perfect commercial. "Christmas Bells" premiered in December 1989, featuring a chorus of Hershey's Kisses playing "Carol of the Bells." In 2020, the company briefly played a new version of the advertisement, "Bells to Blossoms," but quickly reverted to the original version after fans were disappointed with the change.
"Home for the Holidays" by Folgers
The best part of waking up is a cup of hot coffee—and being reunited with your sibling for the holidays. In 2009, Folgers released a commercial showing a brother returning home from a volunteer trip on Christmas morning. The two enjoy a cup of Joe when their parents come downstairs to see their son while the Folgers jingle plays.
"Faint" by M&M's
Show this commercial to your kids to prove that yes, Santa, in fact, does exist. In this clip, the red and the yellow M&M discuss whether St. Nick is real while setting out holiday candies. After bumping into Santa himself, both Santa Claus and the red M&M faint after finding out that they both really do exist. In 2017, the company released a second part of the ad showing the yellow M&M taking over Santa's duties and saving Christmas.
"Catch" by Coca-Cola
It doesn't get much cuter than this clip. Coca-Cola's 2012 holiday commercial features a group of lounging polar bears. When one bear tosses another a bottle of Coke, a little chaos ensues as the receiver fumbles the drink. After some stumbling, spinning, and sliding, the bear finally secures the beverage and takes a nice refreshing sip.
"Melting Snowman" by Campbell's
This clip by Campbell's takes a turn. In the beginning, a snowman is wandering outside on a dark, snowy day before entering a home and sitting down to a bowl of chicken noodle soup. As the snowman begins to melt, a little boy emerges from the snow, smiles, and enjoys his soup.
"Lighthouse" by Macy's
Grab the tissues, as Macy's released a real tear-jerker in 2017. This story shows a family frolicking at a beach when one of the kids, a little boy, waves at a lighthouse before leaving. In the lighthouse, a young girl looks solemn. The story continues showing the girl at home looking at a photo of her parents. Her father is also at the house, but her mother has passed away. The commercial continues showing both families until the end when everyone meets and gathers for Christmas dinner.
"Coming Home for Christmas" by Heathrow Airport
Another sweet sentiment is this commercial that embodies the idea of, "I'll be home for Christmas." This clip shows a couple of teddy bears traveling for the holidays. The duo goes through the airport, and when they get to the arrivals gate, they see their family. The camera cuts to a pair of children and then back to the two "bears" that are actually a pair of sweet grandparents.
"Holiday Greetings" by Budweiser
The most interesting part of this 1987 ad is that it never shows an adult beverage. The commercial presents the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales getting hitched up and preparing to deliver a Christmas tree, and the entire clip simply shows the horses trotting around a snowy scene.
