Christmas 2023: Ads that hit home for the holidays!

Tis the season again folks! Christmas 2023 is finally here and so are Santa Claus, snowmen, reindeer, figgy puddings and brilliant festive ad campaigns. The spirit of the season is all-pervasive, putting a smile even on the faces of grumpy marketing executives in their grey suits. Why wouldn’t it? It’s the time of the year when every penny spent on a Christmas ad pays them back rich dividends. The season even brings out the best in humanity as people unite with their families, give each other thoughtful gifts and even do random acts of kindness. What brand wouldn’t want a sleigh ride on the positive sentiments of the season?

Brands big and small see Christmas time as a golden opportunity to connect with their consumers and gain a place in their hearts in the true spirit of the season. Some of the usual players like Coca-Cola and Apple known for their brilliant Christmas ads have outdone themselves this year. The overarching themes this year were kindness, togetherness and love. Here is our pick of the best Christmas ads of 2023.

Aldi

Supermarket brand Aldi has crafted a whimsical ad campaign, starring characters the iconic Kevin the Carrot, Plumty-Dumptys, Spoilt Little Sprout, Greedy, Gluttonous Grape and Naughty Green Kiwi. The film tells a compelling tale of giving and goodwill even during tough times in a beautiful, animated format. The brand is known for referencing classic movies and texts such as Home Alone, A Christmas Carol and Top Gun in its Christmas ads. This year, the brand tipped its hat to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Amazon

Amazon hit us right in the feels this year with its 2023 Christmas ad. The advert tells a tale of everlasting friendship and finding joy even in the simplest of things. Three senior women relive the glee of sledging just like good old times.  The ad is a part of the integrated “Joy is Shared” campaign by Amazon’s in-house creative team. 

Apple

Christmas kindles the spirit of kindness in each of us, but not many of us are lucky to be treated kindly. In Apple’s Christmas 2023 advert, a young woman deals with her grumpy boss by making stop-motion films on her iPhone, putting her cantankerous boss in unfortunate situations. Once she understands why her boss is so grumpy, she decides to turn things around and befriends the Scrooge-like man. Apart from the sheer technical brilliance of the ad, the film also managed to eke out a tear or two from this writer’s eyes.

Coca Cola

What’s Christmas without Santa? Pretty much like Coca-Cola without Santa. Coke has an inextricable relationship with Father Christmas that goes beyond brand colours of red and white. Coca-Cola’s 2023 Christmas ad is a tribute to the little things that people do to make a difference in each other's lives. The ad film titled “The World Needs More Santas” shows that the spirit of Christmas lies not in over-the-top gestures but in little acts of kindness. Sometimes, all it takes to be a “Santa” to someone is holding the door open. The ad succeeds in tugging at our heartstrings without being saccharinely sweet.

Dior

Dior creates a winter wonderland in its 2023 Christmas advert ‘The Garden of Dreams.’ The ad stars the ethereal Anya Taylor Joy as a fairy who wanders into an enchanted garden that bears Dior gifts such as Miss Dior, J’Adore, Rouge Dior and Sauvage.

Disney

Trust Disney to get it right about all things magical and good, much like Christmas. The whimsical ad from the media giant shows how people across cultures and geographies are united by the spirit of the season. Titled “A Wish for the Holidays,” the film is a paean to the human spirit and a rousing call to persevere against all odds.  

Licious

Closer home, we have Licious with its festive campaign that makes a compelling case to celebrate Christmas throughout December, prompting a confused Santa Claus to come in early. The ad depicts a family enjoying a Licious spread full of Christmas delicacies for dinner. Eventually, Santa joins the feasting family in savouring the festive delights.

redBus

Online bus ticketing platform redBus paid tribute to India’s multiculturalism and how Christmas is celebrated uniquely here. The film showcases a man and his granddaughter going on a trip to Kochi to witness Christmas celebrations. The ad is an ode to India’s cultural diversity, reiterating that Christmas is not limited to any community but is indeed for everyone.

Tesco

Tesco’s Christmas ad for 2023 is about embodying the spirit of the season, quite literally. The ad shows an enthusiastic dad and his bored teenage son driving to Tesco for Christmas shopping. With the sampling of Tesco’s products, each character in the ad turns into a festive icon like a Christmas tree, snowman, gingerbread figurines, etc. The reluctant son who is initially jaded about the festival turns into a Christmas tree himself when presented with a golden star he made when he was a kid.

Waitrose

The supermarket chain Waitrose brought out its 90-second campaign for Christmas in the backdrop of a dinner party. Despite several unfortunate moments such as guests arriving early or the hosts tripping over, food makes every moment enjoyable. The ad spotlights the brand’s Christmas-special offerings and is set to Depeche Mode’s song “Can’t Get Enough.”

Zomato

One of the best Christmas campaigns to come from India, Zomato’s festive ad explores what could happen if Santa Claus is late for his Christmas assignment. “Kids” across age groups are heartbroken and teary-eyed, waiting endlessly for Santa. The day is thankfully saved by Zomato’s delivery executives, who, unlike Santa, cannot afford to be tardy. In Santa’s absence, these hardworking executives work extra hard to deliver meals on time to make up for the heartbreak. In the end, Father Christmas himself gives a bear hug to a delivery executive for filling in for him.