Over the weekend, we went to Starbucks after Weight Watchers, where I enjoyed my skinny caramel macchiato in my first red cup of the season. While I thought the design of the red cup was a little simple this year, I thought maybe that’s what Starbucks was going for, and I didn’t think anything of it after that.
Then, I kept hearing that some Christians were upset about it, saying it was a “war on Christmas.” Huh?
I was confused. A cup has to reflect your holiday? I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard any religious affiliation in conjunction with Starbucks, and I’d never expect any company to cater to one religion.
I find the entire thing completely ridiculous – especially as someone who is Jewish. As a general rule, it’s rare for me to see any of the Jewish holidays reflected in popular culture. Purim? Nope, no parades and festivals here. Passover? I’m just glad there’s a Kosher for Passover section in the store. Yom Kippur? It’s the holiest day of the Jewish year, and I have to use PTO to be off work. I do occasionally see Hannukah paraphernalia, but that’s really more because the timing is close to Christmas (it’s a very minor holiday for Jews). I am fully aware that the world does not revolve around my religion… so why do some Christians feel it does?
Look, as half of an interfaith family and someone who grew up with Christmas myself, I get the holiday spirit. The holidays are fun and festive, and a time of year to celebrate – but there’s a reason behind it. There’s a reason you’re celebrating the holidays, and I’m pretty sure it’s not a design on a cup.
The reason for the season is your personal faith, your personal connection to your faith. The holidays are about family and the spirit of giving, material or otherwise. They’re about spending time with the people you love, celebrating what you believe.
They are definitely, definitely not about a red cup.
25 Responses
Great post! I agree with what you said completely. I am Christian and don’t understand the brouhaha about the red cups. They are cups. Just paper cups. They are not emblems of faith.
I love this post. I love your outlook on it. I’m a Christian and this is completely embarrassing. People who base their religion and their Christmas on a company really need to evaluate their faith. Last I checked Starbucks doesn’t have anything to do with my relationship with God. Bless it. Rant over! Haha! Thanks for sharing. LifeAsLex
I totally think the guy overreacted. I’m a believer but I think that this just took a wrong turn way out of proportion.
I completely agree with you! Even as a Christian, I don’t feel like these are the kinds of things people should be worrying about. Faith is about so much more than just silly causes like this, regardless of what tradition you follow! Thanks for sharing your perspective here 🙂
This whole thing is just ridiculous. I think it’s a few crazy people blowing things out of proportion and spreading info that isn’t true, which gets other people riled up. I had people posting on facebook about how awful it is that the employees are banned from saying “Merry Christmas,” which is a lie. And c’mon, a red cup is just a cup. Not a big deal.
I so agree!
At least from what I’ve heard, Starbucks hasn’t even said it has anything to do with being open to more religions or removing Christmas, it was JUST A DESIGN. They just liked the way it looked-and ombre is in right now. The Christians that are freaking out about this totally just made up an issue in their own heads to be angry about…
Which is even more ridiculous because come on. There are a million other things that you could be angry about that you can actually make a difference for by acting on that anger. How about starving children? Cancer? Genocide? COME. ON. PEOPLE.
They’re all acting like damned fools.
Seriously. So, so crazy people!
Right on with you! There are important things going on in our homes, community, and our world that could benefit so much more than the energy some are putting into this cup issue! Have a nice day 🙂
Great post!! I only dislike this year’s cup because it’s boring haha but I definitely don’t feel that it’s a war on Christmas in any way! I went to Starbucks yesterday and proudly ordered my “war on Christmas” cup (legit…I said that). The barista laughed and said she’d had way too many people complain about that throughout the day haha I’m glad I could make her laugh and I got my delicious holiday drink as well. It was a win/win.
Haha that’s so funny that you ordered it like that! Love it!
This was overreacting to the extreme. To be honest…I really can’t remember anything Christmas-y other than reindeer that have made an appearance on their coffee cups. I can’t lie, I love their holiday designs (I loved their fall design so much!) and I was disappointed that it was red. But a war on Christmas is taking it way too far.
I would think they would be more concerned with the entire commercialization of Christmas, not the lack of it! Like you said, you don’t see blue cups at Hanukkah. They could just do nothing. I wonder if they would complain if a store didn’t decorate for Christmas…
Well now I know why people were all over facebook this morning comparing the red cup debate to first world problems and how sad it was. And I had no idea what they were talking about! I got my first red cup and didn’t notice a thing. People are looking for reasons to get upset and lash out. This is stupid. People need to move on and focus on important things.
I find this so ridiculous. How can anyone equate this to a war on Christians???
liz @ sundays with sophie
I agree with you 100%. I totally think it’s a “crisis” the media cooked up because there is not enough going on … Like real issues in the world to write about! They focus on the little things like what color or pattern their paper cup is when the world is falling apart around us. Personally I don’t need a cup to make my holidays complete. Sometimes all of the forced holiday cheer and decor gets on my nerves. It wasn’t even November and Xmas decorations were out already. It takes some of the fun out of the holidays because I have sensory overload by the time we hit December.
Susan
I totally agree. I am a no-decorations until after Thanksgiving person, ALL the way.
I agree…IT. IS. A. CUP. The media has blown it way out of proportion as usual.
I completely agree! I think it’s ridiculous. Plus what was the design last year? Snowflakes? A plain red cup is no less religious than snowflakes. Craziness. It’s just a cup!
I’m Christian and don’t understand the whole cup thing! I feel like people are just looking for reasons to be offended!
I personally think Christmas is about the season of giving, love, etc. I love starbucks no matter what color my cup is [however I did really love the fall cups, too bad ours sold out of them in like 2 days].
I didn’t even SEE the fall cups they were gone so fast!
I think the cup was pretty! Who cares that they didn’t put something on it. It’s not like they put baby Jesus on there! (not that I would be offended if they did) but people are offended by what is not there?! Wow!
Pretty much right there with you! I was like oh a plain red cup. Well ok. Bummer it’s not as creative but ok it’s still red. Then I started seeing all this war on christmas stuff in my news feed. I just don’t get it. People need to calm down. It’s just a cup like you said.
I agree the entire controversy is ridiculous. Christmas is about so much more than whether or not Starbucks decides to have Christmas themed cups. It is clear to me that I and in this case Starbucks will never be able to please everyone.
I completely agree. I just do not get it… at all. I seriously had to reread some things to make sure I wasn’t missing something! But nope, it is just all a bunch of pointless bickering about nothing. *sigh*