Santa from the 1960s to the 2050s: how much will the character change?

While we have many names for Santa Claus, such as Saint Nicholas or Father Christmas, there are equally, if not more, depictions of the beloved festive character throughout the ages.

Famously, Coca-Cola reimagined Santa Claus, giving him the classic look: the red suit and white-bearded look we know today. But what if we could look forward to the Santa Claus we might encounter in the future?

Freepik, an image bank and stock image platform, has used artificial intelligence (AI) to reimagine Santa Claus throughout history, from the 1960s to 2050.

Using its AI image generation tool, Freepik has imagined what Santa looked like in the past and what they might look like in 25 years' time.

Will this beloved festive character change, or will we stick with the traditional Santa we’ve grown accustomed to?

1960s and 1970s

Artificial intelligence has imagined Santa Claus in the 1960s as a more traditional, red-suited, booted, white-bearded fellow. He’s wearing his classic red hat with white fluffy trim and rounded glasses. How original…

But we head into the year of free love and Pink Floyd – the 1970s. Here is where AI gets creative as we’re greeted with a psychedelic Santa Claus brandishing an electric guitar. St. Nick is dressed in a groovy flower power-patterned suit covered with tassels.

1980s and 1990s

From the 1970s onwards, AI has imbued Santa with the essence of the decade. However, AI is still seeing Santa as a white-haired caucasian male – up until the 2020s.

Artificial intelligence has made 1980s Santa look similar to GI Joe and other masculine action figures of the period. He’s extremely muscular, wearing a vest that shows off his bulging biceps. Other than that, he doesn’t look too dissimilar to the original.

Despite the '90s wardrobe change, where Santa is seen in a red bomber jacket, jeans, and Converse, looking like Marty McFly from Back to the Future, there’s nothing too revolutionary about this St. Nick.

2000s and 2010s

The 2000s, or naughties, were the years of girl band and boy band chaos. We all probably remember the Back Street Boys and NSYNC featuring a ramen-haired Justin Timberlake.

Well, that seems to be the inspiration that AI has drawn from, as this Santa Claus is reminiscent of a wannabe boy band member with his white quiff hairstyle, cargo pants, and Santa-coded hoodie.

The next decade was the decade of the hipster, and Santa truly brought back the look of the 2010s. Father Christmas is dressed in a red tracksuit, wearing a red beanie and what looks like white and red Nike high-top dunks.

2020s and 2030s

In the 2020s and 2030s, we’re seeing more diverse images of Santa. The lovable Christmas character is no longer a white man. Instead, AI has pushed the boundaries of convention and has transformed the character.

AI has reimagined Santa as a sharp man in a tailored red suit embellished with white trim. While he still has his white beard and hair, this Santa is depicted as a person of color who’s not only spreading festive joy but also celebrating diversity.

In the 2030s, perhaps we’re expected to see a completely different side of Santa, as Freepik’s AI image generator sees Santa as a tech-savvy Black woman who is combining the spirit of the festive season with technological innovation.

2040s and 2050s

Some may argue that Santa inherently transcends traditional norms, as he is arguably the embodiment of Christmas. This may be brought to life in the 2040s, as AI has depicted the character as non-binary.

This new identity comes kitted out with a new look, a non-gender conforming suit, and a long red coat while also sporting androgynous features.

In 2050, Santa could transcend its human form, as we could expect to see a cyborg Santa by this decade. The humanoid robot blends the spirit of the holiday with what we could expect characters such as Santa to look like in the coming decades. Despite its hard chrome shell, Santa’s outfit is similar to the suits we are used to today.