Companies That Don't Use "Christmas" in Their Advertising; What Holiday Are we Celebrating

Yesterday, Walgreens placed a 24-page circular in newspapers all across America. It had all the festive markings of that day known as...Holiday?

It's true! At Walgreens, they advertise "Holiday Candy," "Holiday Gift Tags," "Holiday Gift Wrap," "Holiday Decor," "Holiday Accessories," "Holiday Nuts and Snacks" and "Holiday Hats and Stockings." But no Christmas! In total, Walgreens used the term "holiday" 36 times, rather than using "Christmas."

Oh, the trees advertised in their circular? It's just "Prelit" trees.

Go to Walgreens' website and you can shop their "Holiday Shop" and take advantage of their "Holiday Shipping." If you want Christmas, it's not there.

At Walgreens, Christmas doesn't exist! Walgreens wants you to do your "Christmas" shopping with them, while refusing to recognize that Christmas even exists.

Walgreens doesn't want to offend non-Christians by using the word Christmas. The fact that they're censoring the use of Christmas and might offend Christians by doing so seems to be of no importance.

Based on current advertising, below is a list of companies that avoid, ban, or use the term "Christmas" in their advertising.

Other companies AGAINST "Christmas"

Banana Republic

Barnes & Noble

Foot Locker

Gap Stores

Hancock Fabrics

L.L. Bean

Limited Brands

Office Depot

Old Navy

Radio Shack

Staples

Supervalu

Victoria's Secret

Walgreens

For more info, visit: http://action.afa.net/item.aspx?id=2147486887

The Naughty And Nice List - Which Companies are Allowing a "Merry Christmas"

Partial "Naughty List"

Lowe's - Employees cannot say "Merry Christmas" to customers. Lowe's corporate advised that only when customers initiate a "Merry Christmas" greeting can employees respond in kind.

Toys 'R' Us - "Holidays" are in, "Merry Christmas" is out.

Banana Republic - Web site has "Holiday Gift Guide" with no mention of Christmas.

Bed Bath & Beyond - No mention of any holidays.

Barnes & Noble - Web site says "Gift Guide," "Holiday gift baskets," "Holiday sled," "Holiday delivery," but no Christmas. Stores not allowed to put up Christmas trees, and employees are not allowed to say "Merry Christmas."

Best Buy - Web site says "Unique gifts for the season," "Holiday gift ideas." Spokesperson said the use of "Merry Christmas" is disrespectful.

Dick's Sporting Goods - Web site says "gifts" and has images, but no mention of Christmas.

Eddie Bauer - Customer service would not recognize Christmas, they "don't want to offend Jews, those who celebrate Kwanza and those who have no religious preference."

Gap - "Holiday Survival Guide" with no mention of Christmas.

Home Depot - Web site says "Holiday Store" and "Holiday Lighting" and only at bottom of site says "Make your Christmas decorations complete." Stores have "Holiday Home Accents."

K-Mart - Selling "Holiday trees" and "Holiday wreaths."

Partial "Nice List"

Dillard's - Advertises "Christmas Catalog."

JC Penney - Web site has "Christmas Shipping Countdown."

Joann Fabrics - Offers Christmas and Holiday fabrics.

Kohl's - Christmas is all over TV, print and radio ads.

L.L. Bean - Advertises and distributes "Christmas Catalog."

Linens 'N Things - Has a "Christmas Shop" and "Christmas Checklist."

Macy's - "Merry Christmas!" on its home page.

Michaels - Web site has a Christmas section.

M&M-Mars Candies - Will have red and green candies with pictures of Christmas trees and angels among other images.

Target - Web site says "Christmas Decor," although the physical store has "Holiday entertaining." TV ad says "Merry Christmas."

Wal-Mart - Has a "Christmas Shop," plays Christmas carols, and employees can say "Merry Christmas.

Canned Christmas Decorations

If you’re looking for a more eco-friendly way to create a festival of holiday lights in the future, consider what Pennsylvania homeowner Jim Berroth has taken on as a more environmentally friendly approach to dealing with holiday decorations that’s stopping traffic in his neck of the woods. It’s a unique twist on your tired old Christmas tree, and his six grandkids, already schooled in the necessity to recycle what once filled landfills, call the creative display "Pap's pop can trees."

Put together from recycled Pepsi and Miller Lite cans glued together, he then decorates the trees and other seasonal objects with lights picked up at garage sales and holiday garland as well to make ‘em sparkle. As he points out, "The aluminum cans reflect and amplify the lights and garland.”

In total, he used more than 1,800 cans in constructing six trees -- one seven feet high -- one two-foot star and several candles of varying sizes this year, and there’s no doubt he’s got one of the most creative holiday displays around.

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Colo. Subdivision OKs Christmas Wreath

A subdivision has withdrawn its threat of $25 daily fines against a homeowner who put a Christmas wreath shaped like a peace sign on the front of her home.

Homeowner Lisa Jensen told The Associated Press on Monday that the board of directors of the Loma Linda Homeowners Association had apologized, called the incident a misunderstanding and had withdrawn its request for the wreath's removal.

Jensen was ordered to take the wreath down when some residents in her 200-home subdivision saw it as a protest of the Iraq war. Bob Kearns, president of the board, also said some saw it as a symbol of Satan.

The homeowners' association demanded Jensen remove the wreath from her house, saying it doesn't allow flags or signs that are considered divisive.

None of the three members of the board in the scenic town 270 miles southwest of Denver was available for comment late Monday. Kearns and colleague Jeff Heitz both had their phone numbers changed to unlisted numbers Monday. Tammy Spezze, the third board member, did not return a call seeking comment.

Jensen, a past association president, said she was overwhelmed with hundreds of calls of support and offers to help her pay the $1,000 fine that would be due if she kept the wreath up until after Christmas.

"We would like to thank everyone who has contacted us with moral support and offers of financial support. We are grateful to hundreds of complete strangers who felt so moved by this story they contacted us," she said.

"It seems whenever someone tries to say 'Peace on Earth' it is met with so much resistance," she said. "The incredible amount of support we have received over the last couple of days really is proof to us of how many people believe in peace and in our right to say it."