The Starbucks solid red cups have stirred up controversy.
You can search #MerryChristmasStarbucks on Twitter (or Instagram) and find that some customers are asking the baristas to write “Merry Christmas” on the iconic cup, when asked for a name to write on the cup. However, if you do a search of #MerryChristmasStarbucks on Twitter you might find more backlash comments than actual people wanting baristas to write Merry Christmas on two-toned ombré red cups!
It’s incredibly silly. I have to think that the percentage of people actually offended by a solid red cup is outrageously small. There’s more backlash than movement.
Still, a few people must be doing this thing of telling baristas their name is “Merry Christmas.” This morning I was at 1912 Pike Place (catching a little cup throwing action) and noticed a young customer pick up a Caramel Frappuccino with the words “Merry Christmas” on the cup. Nothing says “Christ babe in a manger” quite like an extra caramel Caramel Frappuccino.
The Seinfeld addict in me immediately thought of George Costanza. I believe in Festivus!
You can ask your barista to write Happy Festivus on your cup! If there ever was a year for it, this is it!
Seriously, Starbucks has endured for more flack about their cups in the past and what-d0-you-know came out on top! Somehow, ten years ago, Starbucks survived a far worse backlash over the cups during the era of “The Way I See it” on the cups.
It’s also great to remember that a plain cup is a canvas for whatever you want to put on it!
You don’t need a snowflake or a pointy-nosed snowman to enjoy your holiday – whatever it is you celebrate. Starbucks has never been overtly Christian in their marketing. Embrace the warmth.
It takes all types to make the world go round, but I’m personally shocked that anyone took the position that the plain red cups are indicative of some conspiracy to eradicate Christian symbols from Starbucks. I would bet a lot of money that whoever designed these plain red cups didn’t see this controversy coming!
Partners, be sure to offer your “Merry Christmas” customers the chance to buy a pound of Christmas Blend, once it’s launched in stores on the 10th!
Happy Festivus!
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No! No “Merry Christmas!” We’re still *weeks* away from Thanksgiving. 29 days of Christmas should be enough for anybody. The line must be drawn there! That far, no further!
#SayNoToChristmasCreep
Agree and Starbucks does sell advent calendars as well as gift cards that do feature “merry Christmas” “happy Hanukkah” and ” kwanzaa” so there are subtle ways that Starbucks celebrate all holidays, not to an extreme but provide those choices for customers.
What a silly thing to be up in arms against! For me, my initial reaction to this year’s holiday cups was that they were boring. It took me approximately 30 seconds to get over it. 🙂
I’m not sure why anyone would be actually offended by these cups. I myself am just disappointed. The fall cups were so nice and we should still be getting those. But I’m well aware of how retail works and the Christmas season is the money maker so it’s pushed big time. The anniversary bag’s artwork was fantastic. Then Starbucks gives us a plain red cup that does look a lot like a red solo cup so it just seems lazy to me. They set us up for something grand and people feel let down. Religion should have nothing to do with it so that part is odd to me. I think they could have stayed simple by just having little white snowflakes on the cups maybe. I do collect one of each size every year but will only keep one in a short size this year. But first I have to find a store that will just give me one cause that dang sticker they put on at my closest Starbucks is awful and won’t come off easily. If they asked for a name and was told “it’s Merry Christmas”, that would be on a sticker so that would be no good for people who go that route. And a wall was recently added making this clover store even smaller so it will have very little to no holiday merchandise. Not sure that’s a good idea.
Like you said…more backlash than movement.
Of all the people I know, including many Christians and Non-Christians, exactly ZERO are offended over the red cup.
But plenty of my friends have been getting up in arms over the non-conspiracy to remove Christianity from Starbucks cups (not that they were ever Christian to begin with.)
Again, a home run, Melody. I agree. It is so silly. I am a Christian, and I am not in any shape, form, or fashion offended by these cups. I am not offended, either, by the backlash. Instead, it saddens me to see people calling each other names and being very unkind over a red cup. Personally… I like the cups. To me, they are bold, they are beautiful, and they scream Christmas. I wish it would snow! 🙂 Alas, not here in Florida, though. Makes me miss Wyoming where I’m sure it is coming down in buckets.
Aren’t red and green the colors of Christmas? Those are the two dominant colors on the cup. And weren’t the original red cups just red?
I kinda expected this post to be an April 1 post, but sadly it’s not.
Perfect example of one idea going viral but not indicative of the actual overall feeling. I personally love the simplicity of the cup, it makes me think about when you take away all that Christmas has become to just the simplicity of what Christmas is supposed to truly be.
You can wish me Merry Christmas , Happy Hanukkah, Festivus etc…I just appreciate someone being nice and wishing me something!
My vote says ONE HOLIDAY AT A TIME!!!! Take a cue from Nordstroms … Christmas season doesn’t begin until Thanksgiving has been celebrated. If it were up to me, all the turkey leftovers would be behind us before the Jingle Bells assault begins. BRING BACK THE FALL CUPS … they were beautiful and too short lived.
Hi Melody!
Thanks for stopping by our ‘box’ in Ballard. It was an honor to serve you! It was a pleasure to write on your cup for you! Even if it did take me two tries 🙂
Love your blog.
Hi Heather! Yes this is your store in the backdrop! My drink was perfect!
I’m Christian and don’t care one way or the other about the cups, but based on principle alone, there is something being missed. Starbucks is using the Christmas season to make money, by selling things such as gifts. Gifting is a part of Christmas and I’m sure Starbucks, like any other company relies on huge Christmas/year end earnings. That being said, I can understand why some people might be offended. Its okay to act like its Christmas, as long as you don’t offend anybody using the word. Why else would Starbucks embrace the winter season for heavy sales (like with all those cups last year)? Face it! Nobody celebrates any other season so heavily as winter! And the money all follows after the word Christmas. It’s just an opinion before anybody attacks it.