Starbucks’ cups no longer feature signature holiday elements. Mixed responses arose within online communities, forming the hashtags “#MerryChristmasStarbucks” in support of preserving the religious holiday symbolism and “#ItsJustaCup” in defense of the barren red containers. Patrons will deck the halls this year with simple red cups for their beverages.
The 2009 Starbucks holiday cup featured Christmas ornaments and snowflakes, the 2010 featured winter elements and a person gazing to the sky, the 2011 featured a man and his dog sledding, the 2012 featured a snowman affixed with a top hat and scarf, the 2013 featured smaller ornaments and snowflakes, the 2014 featured large yet dull snowflake designs—and the 2015 model, a red ombre.
The decision to pull religious related holiday symbolism from Starbucks cups faces increased scrutiny from the public as events like Christian persecution from Islamic terrorist organizations, the removal of and defacing of Christian monuments across the nation make headlines. “The War on Christmas” as the idea has been called continues, according to Joshua Feureurstein, an evangelist who popularized the “#MerryChristmasStarbucks” slogan.
Feureurstein released a YouTube video in which he explained how he “tricked” Starbucks into “keeping the Christ in Christmas” by saying the name for his order is “Merry Christmas” so that baristas would then have to call out the common holiday greeting.
“Creating a culture of belonging, inclusion and diversity is one of the core values of Starbucks, and each year during the holidays, the company aims to bring customers an experience that inspires the spirit of the season,” Starbucks said in a press release on their website.
The simplistic red cup is supposed to “mimic a blank canvas,” according to Starbucks. “This year we wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories.”
The coffee holders, however, still feature snow designs during the holiday season. Starbucks is not the only franchise or institution accused of allowing politically correct culture to silence appeals to religion. Many industry speech codes, including public education and even popular brands have policies to say their farewells to customers as “happy holidays” opposed to an implicitly religious phrase like “Merry Christmas.”
SouthPark Mall in North Carolina changed displays this year to make the traditional “mall Santa” visits “fresh and exciting.” How did they go about invigorating the Santa experience? The mall had Santa sit on a glacial display, opposed to a more traditional fireplace or Christmas tree scene.
The feedback from the community was so massively negative to the glaring removal of the Christmas tree that the mall has since decided to include a Christmas tree within their holiday displays.
Pick up your own controversial coffee cup at the Starbucks in the library Monday to Thursday 7:30a.m to 7:30p.m. and Fridays 7:30a.m. to 2:00p.m. while the season lasts.
Barton Kleen
Managing Editor