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The Xmas tree probably originates from the Nordic" Tree of life ". I remember reading it was used to celebrate life and the return of light during the dark cold winters in the north
To celebrate and remember the return of the sun in the dark Winter, lights were used to chase away the dark; green as a symbol of returning life, like vegetation and plants, and red probably symbolises fruit and harvest.
There are several versions and interpretations, so it probably depends on the country or region the tree was used, and in which century.
Santa Claus ( yes, created in USA by Coca-Cola), was /is originally Saint Nicolaus, which in turn was probably merged with Wodan This is the same God as in Wednes-day ( was originally Wodan's day, a Nordic God; just like Thursday, was originally Thor's day ).
Many old Germanic/Nordic religions ( they were very similar) were integrated with Christian symbolism and rituals by the Roman Catholic Church.
Check this link for more general info.
Also because of the ancient Dark versus Light theme, there is definitely an association with the Wild Hunt
In the Norse myths, the original leader of the hunt was the god Odin, known in Germanic myth as Wodan. Odin rode his eight-legged horse, called Sleipnir. His company of hunters were the Valkyries and the dead warriors who resided with him in Valhalla.
The gifts placed in the Christmas trees have also an association as an offering / gift " to forefathers who fell as warriors, and or offering to "the wild hunt" and it's phantoms, as a sort of guarantee you wouldn't invoke their wrath and be taken by them to the phantom realm.
Saint Nicolaus in it's older manifestation had a stronger dark and light side. His demons where probably black or dark, like we see in Austria, Kruppe and Black Pete in the Netherlands/ Flanders region.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/the-claus-that-refreshes/
Santa Claus wasn't in any way invented by Coca-Cola. The name, colours, appearance and everything used by Coca-Cola in their advertising already existed in prior works. The only thing they invented was the association with coke.
This is a super interesting comment, thanks!
As for why Coca Cola made their Santa red, I guess the Scandinavian influence is also worth keeping in mind.
The Norwegian version of Santa is known as Julenissen - literally the Yule nisse - with the continental European stories of Saint Nicholas having been merged with our own traditional nisse (Scandie gnome) living in the barn (fjøsnisse). Nisses, like gnomes, traditionally wear red hats.
Where I celebrated Christmas on Tuesday, we were visited by a version of the fjøsnisse rather than coca cola santa. He told the kids they are coordinating with the Christmas nisse, as it gets busy on the north pole (there is, of course, only one Christmas nisse, but a bunch of fjøsnisser). But of course a knitted red hat was still in place. 🎅
Back 1700 years ago, when St. Nicholas lived, red was an expensive color, reserved for nobility and higher clerics. As Nicholas of Myra was a bishop, he is traditionally depicted in red bishop robes, which advertizing later turned into that red suit worn by fat Santa.