Today Special : National Have a Coke Day
If the very thought of National Have a Coke Day on May 8 makes you want to break into song, you’re not alone. Recorded countless times since it was written in 1971, the song “I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony)” accompanied the brilliant hilltop coke commercial with the words “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” and “It’s the real thing” added to make it a haunting and enduring synthesis of coke, peace and harmony that resonated in the “flower power” era and is still sung today.
Begun more than 125 years ago as a cocaine-fueled medicinal elixir, Coke eventually morphed into the non-narcotic soda of choice for the baby-boomers who came of age in the 60s. As the company grew it added other flavors and varieties of the original coke. Today the Coca-Cola Company continues to be relevant as the largest soft drink company in the world, expanding its uniquely American taste into the world’s largest emerging markets to become a global brand. That’s called “commercial diplomacy.” So, when you start to hum and eventually sing the words you remember from Coke’s 1971 hit song, know that people around the world are singing it along with you, but in their own language.
NATIONAL HAVE A COKE DAY ACTIVITIES
- Have a Coke : Buy some Twinkies and a six-pack of coke and treat yourself to some “me-time”. You can share them if you must, but where’s the fun in that?
- Cook with Coke : Coke adds deep flavor to a pot roast, when poured over a ham it caramelizes and keeps it moist, and mixed with ketchup it makes a great barbecue sauce. Want the easiest recipe ever? Combine it with ice cream for a classic Coke float!
- Share a Coke : Coke is a beverage perfect for sharing, not least because everyone loves it! Buy an extra Coke at lunch for your co-worker, or leave one out for the mailman. Invite friends over for a Coke-fueled happy hour featuring Coca-Cola cocktails or Cokes in glass bottles.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL HAVE A COKE DAY
- It’s nostalgic : Coke is an icy cold thirst quencher on a hot summer day. It’s childhood, youth, first dates and proms all rolled into one. It’s every TV show we ever saw with a Coke commercial; every Top-40s radio program we ever listened to. Coke makes us feel like kids again in the very best way.
- It’s delicious : Is there anything as satisfying as a sip of Coke on a hot summer day? It’s the perfect accompaniment to all of our favorite foods and a sweet treat on its own. Whether you drink a Coke every meal or save them for a special treat, this delightful beverage is a perfect addition to your day.
- It’s versatile : Coke is more than just a great beverage. Coke is a great rust-remover, it removes stains from grout and ceramics, and it de-ices windshields. In the garden it enlivens your compost heap, kills slugs, and snails, refreshes your lawn, and a shallow dish of it can attract bees away from your picnic. And of course, combine it with Mentos and it’s the coolest science experiment we’ve ever seen.
