Hanukkah begins this Saturday, and Christmas is just a few weeks away. In the advertising world this means that brands are stepping up their game to appeal to consumers who are in the mood to spend money. While some brands try new approaches each year, some stick with tried-and-true approaches. Let's look at these iconic ads and see what makes them so timeless.

Lexus 'Gift Car' ads. In these iconic ads that have been running for years, someone has decided to gift a loved one with a new Lexus, so they park it outside with a giant red bow wrapped around it. Love it or hate it, these ads are effective because who wouldn't want to surprise a loved one with a new luxury car? It's a fantasy that very few people are able to fulfill. So regardless if you surprise someone with a new Lexus on Christmas morning, you still have the desire to buy them one at some point.

Coca-Cola 'Polar Bear' ads. In 1993 Coca-Cola debuted their 'Northern Lights' commercial, where a group of animated polar bears enjoyed Coca-Cola under the aurora borealis. Since then the polar bears have kept coming back, enjoying Coca-Cola out on the ice. These ads generally have great production values, and have the added benefit of being less holiday specific and more just about polar bears enjoying soda while playing around. The ads appeal to a very broad spectrum, from young children all the way through adults.

Hershey's 'Holiday Bells' ad. In this holiday ad, the Hershey's kisses act as handbells, ringing out the classic, “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”. The ad is simple, the song one of the less-annoying holiday classics, so the ad works in an innocuous way. It doesn't especially highlight the chocolate treats, but it's a holiday staple that doesn't shove a message down your throat.

Those are three of our picks for iconic holiday ads; can you tell us one we should have profiled, or your personal favorite?