St. Nicholas is the symbol of Christmas
for Europeans in his Bishop’s robe, riding a horse. Early Americans
adopted him as their symbol of Christmas because they did not have a
symbol of their own.
Many talented authors and companies with
imagination transformed a Bishop into a chubby and plump, right
jolly old elf, in a red and white suit, riding in a sleigh, driving
eight tiny reindeer.
SANTA CLAUS was born. Now
America had a symbol of its own.
Over the years, other writers added new
dimensions to the legend. Until “Rudolph” joined the Santa
Claus team, sponsored by Montgomery Ward, few ever imagined
that Santa would need the guiding light of a red-nosed reindeer.
A classic was born when Santa found he could
not make his annual gift-giving excursion without the companionship
of a 6-foot elf named Alfie the Elf.Ô
Alfie was written by Pennywhistle Productions and introduced and
sponsored by Fred Meyer, Inc. and Wal-Mart. Alfie
became the most famous of Santa’s elves in millions of households in
the Pacific Northwest and Sunbelt states. He revitalized the thrill
of Santa’s visit for the young folks.
Leprechauns are folklore in Ireland.
When St. Patrick’s Day came to America in 1737, Irish-Americans
adopted leprechauns as their elfin symbol of St. Patrick’s Day
because they did not have an elfin symbol of their own.
No writers have stepped up to the plate to
Americanize the leprechaun, until now. Pennywhistle Productions has
added a new dimension to St. Patrick’s Day. O’Shawn is a spin off
from the success of Alfie the Elf.Ô
O’Shawn was created as America’s own symbol of St. Patrick’s Day and
a new tradition.
Scandinavian trolls, dressed in green
costumes, are being marketed as leprechauns. Irish-Americans are
entitled to leprechauns with an Irish heritage. O’Shawn is
not only politically correct, but destined to be another national
folk hero, just like Santa Claus.
O’Shawn will rally over 45 million
Irish-Americans. It will become a PR coup with an international
flair, because, the whole world is Irish on St. Patty’s Day.
O’Shawn is a whimsical approach to serious
sales. Our sponsors will go down in the history of St. Patrick’s
Day. Recognition that will last, long after the advertising stops.
