The holidays are approaching, which means it’s time for the latest holiday trend for people to get angry about. Starbucks reintroduced its signature red cups this month for the holiday season — but there’s one difference from the red cups of years past.
The iconic snowflakes and ornaments that decorated the cups have been replaced by “a two-toned ombré design, with a bright poppy color on top that shades into a darker cranberry below.”
“In the past, we have told stories with our holiday cups designs. This year we wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories,” said Jeffrey Fields, the vice president of design and content at Starbucks, according to a release.
They seem pretty basic and nothing to get upset about, right?
Wrong.
Some are livid that the company is trying something different — and that the phrase “Merry Christmas” is nowhere to be found on the cups.
People are tweeting that the new cups don’t promote Christmas; others are taking it a step further, encouraging customers to tell baristas their name is “Merry Christmas” as a way to protest the red cup redesign.
@Starbucks what’s up w the decidedly anything-but-festive-or-Christmassy plain red cups this yr? #BAHHUMBUG #merrychristmas #starbucks #fail
— Amy Elliott Hemeter (@aehemeter) November 6, 2015
There’s nothing Christmassy about these RED&GREEN cups #waronchristmas #christmas #christ #starbucks #merrychristmas pic.twitter.com/LesT37nGDH
— Bill Beck (@bskwizzle) November 9, 2015
Hahaha! Tell @Starbucks that your name is Merry Christmas. They’ll say it and write it on your cup #MerryChristmasStarbucks
— Erin Brownback (@ebrownback) November 7, 2015
The fact that Starbucks took Merry Christmas off their cups is crazy to see where our society has come to. Cmon Who doesn’t like Christmas.
— Diego (@traplifetrue) November 7, 2015
Im asking Starbucks to put Merry Christmas on my cup. #MerryChristmasStarbucks pic.twitter.com/CuZIBxZ6oS
— Leah Whatley (@ElyonSpaGirl) November 6, 2015
Others point out that the simple red and green design is still festive, and much more inclusive.
The #Starbucks red cups without #MerryChristmas on them are a happy medium as not all their patrons celebrate it. The perfect winter cup.
— Sarah Awadalla (@awadeezy) November 8, 2015
@iamluketurner @Starbucks A cup that goes to everyone…….probably should not have Merry Christmas on it. Do we want happy Ramadan?
— Nancy Lancaster (@Nancywillask) November 7, 2015
Still others are wondering: What’s the big deal?
Like you guys realize people are being killed, animals are being abused, yet you’re concerned about a paper cup. #merrychristmas #starbucks
— coughdrops (@vickybeans) November 8, 2015
Y’all get so mad over the stupidest things #starbucks #MerryChristmas
— Edda Včelik (@eddawinnie) November 8, 2015
Call me crazy, but I think Americans have better things to worry about than festive coffee cups. #MerryChristmas #starbucks
— AJ Powers (@aj_powers) November 8, 2015
If the worst thing in your life is #Starbucks having a plain red cup, please take a seat and think this through. #MerryChristmas
— Leesha (@xsparkage) November 7, 2015
A plain red cup hasn’t inspired this much animosity since you lost a game of beer pong.