1. Santa Claus in a Red Suit
Santa Claus existed long before Coca-Cola got involved, but the version we all picture today? That’s pure marketing. In the 1930s, Coca-Cola wanted a warm, friendly image to boost sales in winter, so they commissioned an artist to create a jolly Santa in their signature red and white, Kunle Campbell explains in Big Commerce. Before that, Santa’s outfit varied—sometimes he wore blue, green, or even brown.
Coca-Cola ran these images in ads for decades, reinforcing the idea that this was the “real” Santa. While they didn’t invent Santa himself, they absolutely shaped his modern look. Now, it’s nearly impossible to imagine him in anything other than Coke’s brand colors. If Santa had been drinking Pepsi, who knows—maybe he’d be dressed in blue today.
2. Diamond Engagement Rings
The idea that you must buy a diamond ring to propose isn’t an ancient tradition—it’s a 20th-century marketing stunt. In the 1930s, diamond sales were plummeting, so De Beers launched a campaign convincing Americans that “a diamond is forever,” Uri Friedman explains in The Atlantic. The phrase made it seem like diamonds were the ultimate symbol of love, even though they’re not actually rare. Before this, people proposed with all kinds of rings—or no ring at all.
To really drive the idea home, De Beers also promoted the “three months’ salary” rule, making men feel obligated to spend big. The company even hired Hollywood to feature diamond rings in movies, cementing them as a proposal requirement. The campaign was so effective that most people still believe diamonds are the only way to propose. But in reality, this “tradition” is barely a century old.
3. Black Friday Shopping Frenzy
The day after Thanksgiving wasn’t always about waking up at 4 AM to fight strangers for a discounted TV. Retailers pushed the idea of Black Friday as a must-shop event in the 1980s, promoting huge “doorbuster” deals to get people spending, Sarah Ayoub from The Guardian explains. The name originally had a negative meaning, used by police to describe post-Thanksgiving chaos, but stores flipped it into something positive. By the 2000s, it had turned into an all-out consumer spectacle, with stampedes, overnight lines, and even injuries.
Companies have since stretched Black Friday into an entire season, with pre-Black Friday sales starting as early as October. Cyber Monday was added to cash in on online shopping, and now there’s Small Business Saturday to make sure no spending opportunity is missed. The whole thing exists to keep us shopping, not because of any real holiday significance. It’s capitalism at its finest (or worst, depending on your perspective).
4. Breakfast as the Most Important Meal
The idea that breakfast is the “most important meal of the day” came straight from a marketing campaign, according to Olga Oksman from The Guardian. In the 1920s, cereal companies—especially Kellogg’s—pushed the idea that skipping breakfast was unhealthy. They even hired doctors to endorse cereal as a nutritious and necessary part of the morning routine. This wasn’t about health, though; it was about selling more cornflakes.
Later, the bacon industry jumped in, with a PR expert named Edward Bernays (the “father of public relations”) convincing Americans that a hearty breakfast should include bacon and eggs. Before that, breakfast was often light—maybe just coffee and toast. But thanks to these campaigns, breakfast became a non-negotiable meal, and cereal aisles exploded with options. Today, the belief that you must eat breakfast is still widely accepted, even though science is mixed on whether it’s actually necessary.
5. The Super Bowl Halftime Show
Football fans love it, and even non-sports fans tune in—but the Super Bowl halftime show wasn’t always a must-watch spectacle. In the early days, halftime entertainment was just marching bands or small performances. But in the 1990s, the NFL realized they could turn it into a marketing goldmine, Conor Murray from Forbes explains. They started booking huge artists, securing sponsorships, and making it an event just as big as the game itself.
One of the biggest turning points was Michael Jackson’s 1993 performance, which skyrocketed viewership. Ever since, brands have thrown millions at the halftime show, knowing it guarantees eyeballs. Performers don’t even get paid, because the exposure is worth more than any check. Now, the Super Bowl is just as much about the commercials and the halftime spectacle as it is about the actual football.
6. Valentine’s Day as a Gift-Giving Holiday
Valentine’s Day started as a simple celebration of love, but companies turned it into a consumer holiday. In the early 1900s, Hallmark began mass-producing Valentine’s cards, encouraging people to buy them instead of writing their own. Then, candy companies jumped in, making heart-shaped chocolates a necessity. By the 1980s, jewelry companies were pushing the idea that love required expensive gifts.
Now, Americans spend billions every year on flowers, chocolates, and overpriced prix-fixe dinners. The pressure to buy something has made Valentine’s Day more about commerce than romance. If you don’t participate, society makes you feel like a bad partner. It’s not about love—it’s about keeping businesses happy.
7. The Tooth Fairy Leaving Money
Losing a tooth is a universal childhood experience, but the idea of the Tooth Fairy leaving cash is pure American marketing. In the early 1900s, parents started giving kids coins as a fun way to celebrate losing teeth. By the 1920s and 30s, companies saw an opportunity to commercialize it. Stories, plays, and even dental associations promoted the idea, making it an official “tradition.”
Then, inflation kicked in, and the coins turned into dollar bills—and then multiple bills. Now, there are even Tooth Fairy pillows, special boxes, and entire gift sets to make sure kids expect a reward. Parents feel pressure to keep up, turning what was once a simple gesture into an expensive tradition. It’s no accident that the Tooth Fairy keeps getting richer.
8. Pumpkin Spice Everything
Pumpkin spice wasn’t always a seasonal necessity—it was Starbucks that made it a national obsession. In 2003, the company introduced the Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL), using clever marketing to turn it into a fall tradition. They leaned into nostalgia, making it feel like a cozy must-have, and the limited-time availability created urgency. Soon, other brands jumped on board, and now you can find pumpkin spice in everything from cereal to deodorant.
Before this, pumpkin spice was just a mix of common baking spices used in pies—it wasn’t a cultural event. But thanks to marketing, fall now feels incomplete without a PSL in hand. Every year, companies release pumpkin spice products earlier and earlier, sometimes before summer is even over. Whether you love it or roll your eyes, there’s no denying this “tradition” was carefully manufactured.
9. Greeting Cards for Every Occasion
It used to be that cards were mainly for major holidays or special occasions like weddings and birthdays. But thanks to Hallmark and other greeting card companies, there’s now a card for everything—Boss’s Day, Grandparents’ Day, even “Just Because” cards. In the early 1900s, Hallmark started pushing the idea that sending a card was a necessary way to show you care. Over time, their marketing expanded the number of events that supposedly require a card.
Now, people feel obligated to buy cards for graduations, anniversaries, and even minor milestones like a pet’s birthday. The idea that a store-bought card is more meaningful than a handwritten note or a phone call is pure marketing. Companies even manufacture “belated” cards so you don’t feel guilty if you forget a date. What started as a way to express emotions has turned into a billion-dollar industry.
10. Pink for Girls, Blue for Boys
The idea that pink is for girls and blue is for boys isn’t an ancient gender rule—it was created by marketers. In fact, before the 1940s, it was the opposite, with blue often recommended for girls and pink for boys. But as companies began mass-producing baby clothes, they realized they could sell more if parents believed colors had strict gender associations. Retailers and advertisers doubled down, promoting pink as feminine and blue as masculine.
By the 1950s, this artificial divide was fully ingrained in American culture. Now, baby showers, nurseries, and even toys follow this color-coded marketing scheme. Companies continue to profit by making separate “boy” and “girl” versions of everything, from razors to building blocks. It’s not about personal preference—it’s about getting people to buy more stuff.
11. Engagement Photoshoots
Once upon a time, the only wedding photos people took were on their actual wedding day. But in recent decades, engagement photoshoots have become an expected part of getting married. This trend started with wedding photographers looking for ways to book extra sessions and grew thanks to social media. With Pinterest and Instagram fueling the hype, couples now feel pressured to have a professional engagement shoot in addition to wedding photos.
Many wedding websites and bridal magazines also promote engagement sessions as “must-haves.” The idea is that couples need beautiful, staged photos to announce their engagement properly. This adds another expensive step to an already pricey wedding industry. What used to be a simple life event has been transformed into a highly curated, camera-ready production.
12. Registry Lists for Weddings and Babies
Gift registries make sense—they help people know what to buy—but they weren’t always a wedding and baby shower requirement. Department stores invented registries in the 1920s, realizing they could boost sales by getting couples to create wish lists. Over time, this idea spread to baby showers, housewarmings, and even birthdays. Retailers marketed them as a way to ensure people got gifts they actually wanted, but the real goal was to sell more products.
Now, some registries are so detailed they even specify exact brands and models. The pressure to have a registry makes it feel like a necessity, even though people managed just fine without them for centuries. Some stores even offer discounts if people don’t buy everything on their list, encouraging more spending. What started as a convenience has become another way to fuel consumerism.
13. New Year’s Eve Champagne Toast
Champagne and New Year’s Eve feel inseparable, but this wasn’t always the case. In the 1800s, champagne was expensive and mostly reserved for the wealthy, with no special tie to the holiday. But in the early 1900s, champagne brands started marketing it as the drink of celebration, linking it to New Year’s Eve parties. Advertisers pushed the idea that ringing in the new year wasn’t complete without a bubbly toast.
The strategy worked, and now millions of Americans pop bottles at midnight as if it’s tradition. Even cheaper sparkling wines got in on the action, making sure there was a bottle at every budget. The connection between champagne and celebration is so strong that people rarely question it. In reality, it’s just another example of smart marketing turning a product into a “must-have” tradition.
