Ok I know it’s not even December 1st yet, but like it or not, Christmas is already well and truly on all of our minds! Once Halloween is over the stores begin putting up their Christmas decorations and pretty soon afterwards the festive adverts begin. I am a self-confessed Christmas nut so it’s never too early for me to get into the jingle bells spirit and nothing puts a smile on my face and if I’m honest a little tear in my eye more so than the evocative Christmas adverts that are on our TV screens every year.
There are so many amazing adverts that in fairness this year I felt I could have done a 2013 top 10 with ease. But for this blog post, I’ve pulled my favourite adverts from my childhood right up to this year. Make a cuppa and enjoy, remember….. Holidays are coming ……
Budweiser Christmas Ad 1987
This advert was very much part of my childhood. Horses played a huge part in our family and seeing The Budweiser Clydesdales would always make us all pause our chaotic lives for a moment or two and get a little misty eyed as the horses pulled their cart through the beautiful snowy landscape. And when Mr Budweiser sends his holiday greetings to us all, don’t you just believe he is talking directly to YOU?! It’s impossible to watch this I think without tapping your feet in time to the music and if you are me, shouting out Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly right in the middle!
Kelloggs Christmas Ad 1991
Whenever this advert appears on our TV screens it takes me right back to my family, The O’Grady’s and a certain little girl who looked exactly like the blonde toddler in the advert. My niece Sheryl was so like her 20 years ago, it was uncanny for us! Whenever I see this advert I remember a beautiful, sweet little girl who stole our hearts and made our Christmas’s so much fun back then. She’s now all grown up and 23, but still beautiful and making our Christmas’s fun.
Quality Street 1992
This one is another example of a Christmas advert that doesn’t need the big man in Red to make it Christmassy. And there is no escaping from the soundtrack here. Come on all together now, ‘Magic Moments….’ Watch this and sing along with a smile on your face!
ESB going home 1989
I left home to go to Dublin when I was 18 and every year until MrH came on the scene, I would go home to Wexford for Christmas. So when I see this advert it reminds me of all the times I would travel home on the train to Hanrahan’s Station in Wexford on Christmas Eve, rucksack laden down with Christmas presents, counting the minutes till I got home to see Mammy and Daddy. And who recognises the young man in the advert? Yep, that’s right, it’s Alan Hughes from TV3’s Ireland AM, cute as a button! Aw!
Coca Cola Christmas Trucks 2001
I think that if there is one advert that everyone associates with Christmas, no matter what age they are, or where they are from, it is the iconic Coca Cola Christmas Trucks. It first was aired in 2001, but has now become synomonous with the countdown to Christmas Day. And without doubt it has one of the catchiest jingles every written ‘Holidays are coming!’ I love watching this with my children now and seeing their faces light up when Santa winks at the end is so special.
Guinness Christmas 2004
Guinness have quite rightly won awards galore for their innovative ads and for anyone with Irish connections, this one will be a firm favourite. I love it because it shows so many iconic Irish scenes in such a traditional and simple manner, that it makes us nostalgic for home and family and a roaring fire!
Don’t forget to turn the lights off! 🙂
M&S Christmas 2009
M&S are so clever with this advert. They gather together some firm family favourite celebrities including Stephen Fry and Twiggy and even throw in Wallace & Grommet for the kiddies. The Dads are happy too as there is a beautiful girl running around in her knickers! Yep, they got this right.
John Lewis 2011
If there is one retailing giant who has earned a much deserved reputation for providing us with emotive and heartwarming moments it is John Lewis. Hence them making my list twice! I love the soundtrack, the slowed down acoustic version of The Smiths Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want a genius choice! When I saw this advert for the first time I smiled in recognition of memories of my own childhood watching the little boy impatiently wait for Christmas Morning. But the twist at the end made me a blubbering mess and was so beautifully depicted! Total feel good moment and when I looked at it again last night, I wanted to wake up my children to hug them.
John Lewis 2013
I had heard lots about this advert on twitter before I actually saw it and of course I knew that John Lewis did Christmas adverts so well, so I was eagerly anticipating my first viewing of it. Mr H and I watched it together and when it was over I couldn’t talk for a moment, so overcome with emotion was I. I turned to Mr H and said tearfully, ‘Wasn’t that just amazing?’ Rog replied matter of factly, ‘Cool animation.’
Cool animation? What! Why wasn’t he in tears at the joyous moment when the bear sees Christmas for the first time thanks to the thoughtful rabbit? Well that’s the truth about boys and girls in a nutshell my friends. I’ve chatted to friends about this and it appears with this advert that the girls all get emotional for it, but the boys not so much. Cool animation indeed!
Tesco Christmas 2013
Ok whoever chose Rod Stewarts Forever Young for this advert deserves a huge bonus in their paycheck! Immediately Rod’s gravelly voice brings us nostalgically back to our childhoods. Mr H and I watched this together for the first time a few weeks ago and as the advert progressed so did the lump in my throat. I knew that it was getting Mr H too when he reached over for my hand and held it tightly, his eyes glistening with tears. The advert immediately made a connection to us both and we identified with the parents with two children and imagined Christmases to come with our own children, ourselves getting older. Even just thinking about this advert makes me feel weepy. Proper lump in my throat territory and without doubt a firm favourite for Mr H & I.
So that’s my top 10 Christmas adverts. I could have easily shared a dozen more, because there are so many that are fantastic. What would make your list?
Chat soon,
Carmel x