Christmas advert time

Source: You Tube (Allegro) Key Words: Polish Christmas advert

Polish Christmas advert about grandfather who learns English touches hearts around the world 

Forget the John Lewis Christmas advert — this year's tear-jerker comes from Poland.

Two and a half million people from around the globe have watched this year's advertisement from Allegro, an online auction website.

It features a grandfather, who orders an "English for beginners" set from the website.

He then sets about becoming fluent, sticking Post-It notes around the house with English words on.

The elderly gentleman even practices loudly on the bus, bemusing those around him.

He seems particularly keen to learn how to introduce himself, and say "I love you" and "you are perfect".

For those wondering why he is putting so much effort into learning English, the reasoning soon becomes clear.

His son appeared to have moved to England, and married an English woman.

The two have a child together, the old man's granddaughter.

At the end of the advert, we see him introducing himself to her: "Hi. I am your grandfather".

The advert has touched people around the world.

One person wrote on YouTube: "My gosh... that was a beautiful ad.. I got tears in my eyes."

Another said: "I'm not crying, you're crying."

 A spokesperson for Allegro told BuzzFeed: “For years, we’ve strived to make both Allegro - the largest e-commerce platform in the CEE region - as well as our communication to customers bring joy, touch the heart and cause a smile.

"Such is this ad: about a grandfather who overcomes obstacles to reunite with his loved ones living abroad. Many Polish people share the same experience. Nearly one million Poles have decided to leave the country in search for a job, mainly heading the United Kingdom. Despite the relatively close distance between the countries, family ties tend to weaken. Therefore, Christmas for many is a difficult time in which we yearn for more.

"But the story we are telling is all-purpose and can be easily understood by any other nation or community who can easily link the happy ending of a smile and tears of emotion to their daily human experience."

Source: Telegraph

Other Christmas adverts:

 
Source: You Tube (TVAdverts1) Key Words: John Lewis Christmas 2016





Source You Tube (M&S) Key Words: Marks Spencer Christmas 2016






Source: You Tube (Cod von Richthofen) Key Words: Sainsbury's Christmas 2014





 
Source: You Tube (TVAdverts1) Key Words: Aldi Christmas 2016

Comments

brigida said…
I liked a lot. I prefer this one to the Spanish advert. This moved me more. At least, people don´t fool the poor old man!
Luis Carlos Fernández said…
Allegro's ad is magnificent, although I'm not sure it is efficiently promoting their website (I thought the old man was just buying online, not specificaly at Allegro).

The other ads are great except for the carrot one, which is way too weird for a supermarket chain, memorable but weird.

I share Brigida's thoughts about this year's Christmas National lottery ad. It would be very interesting to see the day after the ad because her family and neighbours can not pretend like that forever and someone has to pay for the party at the lighthouse.
Graham said…
Hi Brigida,

I agree. This advert is very moving.


I liked it a lot. I prefer this one to the Spanish advert. It moved me more. At least, people don´t deceive the poor old man!


like + object + adverb
Graham said…
Hi Luis,

I think the lottery ad lacks a touch of humour. I can't remember one that made me laugh.


Allegro's ad is magnificent, although I'm not sure it is efficiently promoting their website (I thought the old man was just buying online, not specifically at Allegro).



Anonymous said…
I have seen Mark and Spencer Christmas advert which I liked because I´ve seen scenes that remind me some situation with my own kids. Because there isn´t a big age gap between my kids they do have a very equal realationship, but it is funny for me when they write the letter to the Three wise men on behalf our dogs asking things as a beddog or a big bone...

About the commercial I think it is more prone to publicity the brand rather than to sell a product, even to the point that I had to watched twice to realize what was the brand behind the advertisement.
I guess they regulary feature this kind of stories in christmas and began to be like a tradition, competing with other wellknown brands trying to produce the best chritmas advert that year.

I found it touching and smart

Daniel
Graham said…
Hi y,

I wasn't that impressed by the M&S ad. Maybe it's because I am not that into Christmas. I much prefer the other adverts in this post.


I have seen the Mark and Spencer Christmas advert which I liked because I´ve seen scenes that remind me of some situations with my own kids. Since there isn´t a big age gap between my kids, they do have a very equal realationship, but it is funny for me when they write the letter to the Three wise men on behalf of our dogs asking for such things as a dog's bed or a big bone...

About the commercial, I think it publicizes the brand rather than sells a product, even to the point that I had to watch it twice to realize what the brand behind the advertisement was.

I guess they regulary feature this kind of stories at Christmas and it began to be like a tradition, competing with other well-known brands trying to produce the best Chritmas advert for that year.

Anonymous said…
Hi Graham
First of all, I have to say that I can’t stand this kind of advertising, especially those created at Christmas times. I don’t know if you have seen the Spanish advertising about Christmas lottery (“el gordo”). Perhaps in this example the story is more elaborated, but the method is similar. The primary objective of this kind of advertising is always the same: to move people with elemental resources, resources as the relationship between the grandfather and the granddaughter that we can see in the Polish Christmas. Of course, as happen in all advertisings, the story is quite unreal or improbable, but the phycologists who think of this kind of tales look for the complicity of people on the side of sentimentality. The difference between the serious creation and this other is exactly this aspect: draw on the “easy tear” (I don’t know if this is good English, but I suppose that you know what I mean what I say.)
On the other hand, the Polish advert has another interpretation, a sociological interpretation. The story reminds us the importance of the migration of Polish people to UK. The grandfather (elderly people) lives in Poland, but his son and his granddaughter (young people) live in UK. In my opinion this is good for UK and bad for Poland, but I know that no all people in UK have the same opinion regarding this.
Finally, the advertising is released by Allegro, an auction online website. It’s shocking because this kind of company is absolutely conditioned by the law of the supply and demand and don’t usually have space for naive messages like this.

José Luis professor
Graham said…
Hi JL,

When it comes to Christmas, I'm a bit of a scrooge. I ignore all the pressures to spend money I don't have. I just wish the goodwill we are encouraged to show at Christmas would extend to other times of the year.

I like the Polish advert. Contrary to what you might think, the Polish are actually welcomed by the vast majority of Brits. One million have settled there since 2001. But long before that, many escaped the Nazis during the Second World War and settled there. Don't swallow everything that you are fed by the media here. The UK has a proud tradition of accepting peoples from all corners of the globe. Unlike other countries. :-)



First of all, I have to say that I can’t stand this kind of advertising, especially those created at Christmas time. I don’t know if you have seen the Spanish advertisement about the Christmas lottery (“el gordo”). Perhaps in this example the story is more elaborated, but the method is similar. The primary objective of this kind of advertising is always the same: to move people with elementary resources, resources like the relationship between the grandfather and the granddaughter that we can see in the Polish Christmas. Of course, as happens in all adverts, the story is quite unreal or improbable, but the phycologists who think of this kind of tales look for the complicity of people on the side of sentimentality. ...+

On the other hand, the Polish advert has another interpretation, a sociological one. The story reminds us of the importance of the migration of Polish people to the UK. The grandfather (elderly people) lives in Poland, but his son and his granddaughter (young people) live in UK. In my opinion this is good for the UK and bad for Poland, but I know that not everybody in the UK has the same opinion regarding this.

Finally, the advert is released by Allegro, an auction online website. It’s shocking because this kind of company is absolutely conditioned by the law of the supply and demand and doesn’t usually have space for naive messages like this.



advertising (UNC) = the profession
to advertise
an ad / an advert / an advertisement


Roberto said…
Hi,

I don´t like too much Christmas Time because of the materialism and the falseness of this days.
Only beautiful words, not facts.
I can´t stand the advertisements of the Christmas Lottery,(too much sugar).
And all those movies about the Bible...
On the other hand, I like the free days and the extra pay...

About the inmigration subject, cities like London have a long tradition in this field, with people of all around the World.

In any case, I hope all of you have a good time!.












Graham said…
Hi Roberto,

How are your classes going?

I'm writing this from Inverness. Are you in Galicia for the holidays? I hope you have a lovely Christmas.

I don´t like Christmas Time so much because of the materialism and the falseness of these days.

As for the subject of immigration, cities like London have a long tradition in this field, with people from all around the world.

Roberto said…
Hi Graham,

Everything it´s OK and the classes are going well, if you are in Madrid, you can go one Saturday morning and you can try. I only have two people by the moment, and we are starting from cero, only basic things. You can do it!.

I´ve gone to Zamora for the Holidays beacause my parents live there. How about you?.

Graham said…
Hi Roberto,

I might surprise you one day.

I haven't been running properly for five months because I don't get enough rest. It'll be difficult for me to get up for a Saturday morning class. Let's see.


Everything is OK and the classes are going well, if you are in Madrid, you can go one Saturday morning and you can try it out. I only have two people for the moment, and we are starting from zero, only basic things. You can do it!.

I´ve been to Zamora for the holidays beacause my parents live there.


I had a nice time in Inverness with my parents. It was great to escape city life for a while.
Marina L said…
Oh, I was delighted with this ad!!
It reminded me this film which lead actor I think is familiar to you :) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1532503/

This ad shows that we can achieve everything we set our mind t and of course, that there are no limits in the love, what ever is the sort of.
With barely few words and an very common history, this ad achieves to cross borders and talk about something so sad as the unwanted distance between people.

With ads like this about single love stories, the brands succeed in improving the improving their corporate image... because it is not so much about the product, if not about the feelings.
Graham said…
Hello Marina,

I think most people would agree that this advert is a memorable one because it pulls at the heartstrings. You must have a heart of stone if you aren't moved by it.


Oh, I was delighted with this ad!!
It reminded me of a film whose lead actor you are familar with :) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1532503/

This ad shows that we can achieve anything if we set our minds to it and of course, that there are no limits to love, whatever form it takes

With barely a few words and a very simple story, this ad is able to cross borders and talk about something as sad as the unwanted distance between people.

With ads like this about individual love stories, the brands succeed in improving their corporate image... because it is not so much about the product, but more about feelings.
María Rossignoli Montero said…
Hi Graham!

I do like this period of the year, it reminds me of previous years when I was a kid and everything was so airy-fairy. I used to be really excited about the three wise man and about striving to write a proper letter.
Nowadays I still have some Christmas spirit, but I guess what I like now are the days off at work/university and spending time with friends and relatives.
Since Christmash is coming, TV is full of these kind of ads. Honestly, most of them I find a bit sickly-sweet and so predictible.
Among the ones I saw on this page, I clearly prefer the polish one. I think a lot of people can relate/identify with this situation.
As for the others, I also liked the carrot one. I didn't find it really meaninful but I enjoyed watching the carrot gathering Santa Claus and his reindeers.
Graham said…
Morning María,

I am not a huge fan of Christmas - it begins so early. By the time it arrives, you are sick of Christmas carols and songs (most shops in the UK blast them out all month long). The adverts start even earlier.

You must have a heart of stone if you are not moved by the Polish advert. You may think the one with soldiers is on the boring side but it does reflect the true spirit of Christmas. I am sure you are aware of this already (it's your specialist subject, isn't it?) - there was a truce called during the First World War - just for Christmas day. The two enemies played a game of football.


I do like this period of the year, it reminds me of previous years when I was a kid and everything was so airy-fairy. I used to be really excited about the three wise men and about striving to write a proper letter. (Writing was never your strong point them haha)

Nowadays I still have some Christmas spirit, but I guess what I like now are the days off work/university and spending time with friends and relatives.

Since Christmas was on the horizon, TV has been full of these kinds of ads. Honestly, most of them I find a bit sickly-sweet and so predictable.

Among the ones I saw on this page, I much prefer the Polish one. I think a lot of people can relate/identify with this situation.

As for the others, I also liked the carrot one. I didn't find it really meaningful but I enjoyed watching the carrot accompanying Santa Claus and his reindeer.