This festive season, Nivea is bringing loving hearts together by offering them a unique opportunity to come to New York’ Times Square and kiss on a special Kiss Platform that “will feature memorable moments to entertain the crowd” on New Year’s Eve. To get this opportunity, US couples are invited to participate in the brand’s contest, dubbed ‘Kiss the One You Love’ on Facebook, which was kicked off on December 1.

With less than 20 days left until Christmas, brands are presenting their own versions of the iconic ‘Jingle Bells’ carol, and each of them adds something special to the well-known song. Guinness GB teamed up with famous British ‘electro folk’ musician James Yuill to update the classical tune by playing on Guinness pint glasses in a pub. ‘Jingle Pints,’ the contemporary version of the 150-year old festive hit, can be heard in a new viral video, which was filmed between the musician’s Indonesian and South American trips.

Belvedere is excited to reintroduce Belvedere Silver for the 2010 holiday season. Belvedere Silver is Belvedere super premium vodka packaged in a brand new, limited edition Silver bottle. A fixture at Fashion Weeks around the world and the Cannes Film Festival on the French Riviera this year, Belvedere Silver is the centerpiece for the hottest celebrations. Popular not only for its precious contents but also for its stylish, keepsake bottle, Silver is this holiday season’s must-have souvenir.

Coca-Cola GB was joined by the Road Safety Minister, Mike Penning MP at the Warwick pub in Pimlico today to celebrate the launch of this year’s ‘Designated Driver Campaign‘.  The nationwide campaign, now in its third year, rewards drivers who chose not to drink with a “buy one, get one free” offer on Coca-Cola and diet Coke.

As part of its ‘Magic of Christmas’ campaign, the world-renowned confectionery brand Ferrero erected the 11ft Christmas tree adorned with 10,000  individually wrapped chocolates. This mouth-watering tree was designed by food artist Prudence Staite and installed in Covent Garden on November 25. Without a doubt, it is the biggest edible Christmas tree ever produced in the UK. 

Ballantine’s has added its first seasonal limited edition expression to the range, with the unveiling of Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve. Created by Master Blender Sandy Hyslop, Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve is an exceptional blended whisky of superior quality which will be available annually for a limited period. This expression is a Scotch whisky category first, with its familiar seasonal notes and luxury Christmas aromas such as sweet wood, dried fruit, raisins and cinnamon.

Coca-Cola Ireland are delighted to announce the launch of their Christmas digital activity drawing on the wonderful heritage of Coca-Cola’s association with Christmas. The campaign consists of a website, iPhone Application, Facebook application and online advertising including a high profile Homepage Take Over on MSN.ie. Online advertising specials will also be present on Entertainment.ie, eBay and Independent.ie during November and December. The campaign creative features the iconic Coke Santa and Coke Trucks set inside a snowglobe scene.

With the winter holidays coming up, brands are busy promoting their products or services in the most eye-catching way. The retail chains have to do the double work promoting their venues and selling the advertized goods at the same time in the most intense period of the pre-Christmas season. To educate consumers how to behave during the holiday frenzy, Target released a series of hilarious adverts about Black Friday 2-Day Sale featuring comedian Maria Bamford.

Pleated, pierced and crimped together just so, here comes the planet’s newest diva: Miss Illy, famed Barneys New York creative director Simon Doonan’s singular vision in illy espresso tins and foil, debuted November 16 in the Barneys New York holiday windows. Fresh and full-bodied as the primo Arabica she once so lovingly nurtured (her parts all fashionably recycled), Ms. Illy is the can’t-miss vixen centerpiece of the iconic retailer’s Madison Avenue flagship windows, themed “Have a Foodie Holiday” for 2010.