In Australia, Christmas coincides with summer – adults winding down at the beach after another year in the office and teens going wild in the party merry-go-round. But wherever it’s Christmas, the holiday’s universal appeal centres on the innocence of children.

Germany supermarket chain, Lidl, and Wesson, a brand that just makes cooking oils, have captured this. Both films are filled with the joy of Christmas that the world needs every year to regroup – and this year more than most.

In Accenture Song’s Christmas commercial, a young girl ponders the true meaning of Christmas. “Why do we love Christmas so much?” she wonders. “Maybe it’s because everyone is a bit less grumpy. It’s not all me, me, me – it’s more, us…” Christmas, Lidl, reminds us through the eyes of innocence, is about kindness, connection, and generosity. And the Beach Boys’ song, Wouldn’t it be nice, subtly underlines to adults perhaps that this is a wish.

Attached to the campaign is the brand’s annual Toy Bank donation initiative that runs in partnership with Neighbourly. Last year,  100,000 toys were donated last year to children who might not have received presents otherwise.

Wesson’s Christmas campaign by Toronto boutique agency, Manic Pixie, features a young girl’s muffinbake to give to her classmates. The classic gift of “heart” is to an elderly person who lives alone. The commercial exemplifies Wesson’s brand platform, It Starts With Wesson, positioning the heritage cooking oil brand as a trusted companion in creating moments of warmth and togetherness, both big and small. The campaign debuted for US Thanksgiving.

“We wanted to create something touching and feel-good that nodded to the giving spirit of the holiday season,” stated Mark Rozeluk, founder and chief narrative officer at Manic Pixie, who also directed and edited the spot. “The season can be a lonely time for some, so small gestures and moments of connection can be incredibly meaningful.”

“At Wesson, we believe food has the power to bring people together in meaningful ways,” added Emily Van Walleghem, marketing manager, Wesson. “For 125 years, Wesson has been part of countless family traditions. This campaign celebrates how even the simplest recipes can create real moments of connection, and how giving can start with something as small as a muffin.”

To extend the story into real life, QR codes featured in the creative invite viewers to download the exact muffin recipe seen in the film, along with other holiday favourites from Wesson’s recipe collection. The full campaign extends across digital, social, connected TV, cinema, and out-of-home in select US cities.