The campaign has been launched by a German priest Father Eckhard Bieger from Frankfurt, who has produced thousands of traffic sign-like stickers proclaiming a "Santa-free area".
The stickers show Santa dressed in his traditional red outfit, with a bar across the red-cheeked Santa image, which was originally created by American artist Haddoon Sundblom and popularised by advertising agency D'Arcy Massius Benton & Bowles in its work for Coca-Cola beginning in 1934.
Before the Sundblom-created red cheeked and outfitted Santa appeared, Santa had been depicted in many guises and his costume was often green. In keeping with Coca-Cola's branding he was given a red suit, rosy cheeks and the famous white beard. Of course, he was also always seen clutching a bottle of Coke.
The Jesuit priest told the Frankfurter Rundschau newspaper he was trying to highlight the difference between Saint Nicholas as a traditional figure and Santa Claus as a marketing tool.
German tradition has it that Saint Nicholas, who lived in the fourth century and was the bishop of Myra in what is now modern-day Turkey, went from house to house on the night of December 5 rewarding children who had been good by putting sweets in their boots.
The stickers produced by Bieger cost €0.50 and some 5,000 have already been sold.
The question of using Santa in Christmas advertising campaigns is not a new one. Some in the advertising and marketing business have previously began to question whether Santa's appeal was waning.
Several years ago, Microsoft launched a TV campaign showing Father Christmas and his little helpers being made redundant by computer software that can answer any Christmas wish.
In 1996, Pepsi considered an advertising campaign in which Santa Claus swaps brands from Coca-Cola. The move, which did not in the end go ahead, was part of Pepsi's flopped £300m "blue" campaign.
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