I popped into my local Starbucks a few days ago and I noticed that the new red cups are out. Now, I LOVE when Starbucks bring their red cups out for Christmas, to me it signifies colder nights, gingerbread lattes and that the holiday season is just around the corner. While I was in the store I also saw the cute little Christmas ornaments for this year and made a mental note to pop back for some in a few days. We already have a little ‘To Go’ cup on our tree and the 2015 decoration is a mug with a stripy candy cane handle – definitely one to add to the collection.
Anyways, I didn’t give my red cup any other thoughts so I was surprised to see that the plainer design introduced this year has been causing ripples of controversy across the USA and elsewhere and has somehow been interpreted as ‘Anti-Christmas’. The design is a plain red cup rather than the sparkly snowflake laden cup of previous years. This has been construed as a ‘War on Christmas’ and a ‘Whitewashing of a Christian holiday’. And to this I say, “IT’S A PAPER CUP”, not a burning effigy of the baby Jesus! I’ve also seen quite a few articles where people have taken offense to the phrase ‘Happy Holidays’ or ‘Holiday Season’. I just don’t get that at all. For me personally, I say Merry Christmas, Season’s Greetings (usually after a few mulled wines when I’m feeling a tad more verbose) and Happy Holidays. As long as you’re not in the tragic “Happy Chrimbo/ Have a Cool Yule/ Merry Kissmas” camp, you’re generally fine with me. Sorry to any Daily Mail readers out there but no-one is trying to take Christmas away from you, it’s just more nonsense and fear mongering for absolutely no reason except to create hatred and anger among people.
I’ll be honest, once upon a time, I used to work for Starbucks and I’ve always had an affection for Starbucks and it’s coffee and it’s Christmas drinks. It’s a great company with great people working there. I think it’s becoming really trendy to hate Starbucks these days, and yes perhaps they don’t help themselves with scandals over tax among other things. Yes they get things wrong from time to time, like any other massive business. But it’s just a coffee shop, and its purpose is to make coffee and sell it. I think the reaction to the red cups this year is bordering on ridiculous. Starbucks is not an Anti-Christmas corporation. If you go in today you’ll hear Christmas music, you can buy Christmas Blend, look at the display of the 2015 range of Christmas cups and decorations, and you’ll probably find a Christmas tree there too. Starbucks is as festive as they come!
In the Season of Goodwill, don’t we have more important things to worry about than whether there’s a reindeer on the cup or not? We have just booked our flights home for Christmas this year and I’m looking forward to catching up with family and friends when I’m back. At least, I will be, once I get over the price of the tickets! How you choose to celebrate Christmas is something that is personal and is in your heart, it’s not something a design on a paper cup can take away. Have a wonderful festive season wherever you are celebrating it.
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