Wal-Mart Employees Say 'Merry Christmas'
Wal-Mart announced to its employees Thursday that it is OK to once again greet shoppers by saying "Merry Christmas" instead of the generic "Happy Holidays."
by Gretta Curtis
Posted: Friday, November 10, 2006, 8:18 (GMT)
Following last year’s Wal-Mart controversy regarding religious issues over Christmas, the corporation announced to its employees Thursday that it is OK to once again greet shoppers by saying "Merry Christmas" instead of the generic "Happy Holidays".
Controversy was sparked last year when a woman complained to Wal-Mart that the store was replacing its "Merry Christmas" greeting with "Happy Holidays".
The woman received an e-mail response from a customer service representative, reading that ‘Wal-Mart is a worldwide organisation and must remain conscious of this. The majority of the world still has different practices other than 'Christmas'."
The American Family Association and The Catholic League boycotted retailers including Wal-Mart for excluding the word "Christmas" from products sold in stores.
"We, quite frankly, have learned a lesson from last year," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Linda Blakley told USA Today in a separate report. "We're not afraid to use the term 'Merry Christmas'. We'll use it early, and we'll use it often."
Besides resurrecting its Christmas pitch, the retailer is also determined to be the leader in this year's holiday price wars.
The November-December holiday shopping period is a critical time for traders since it can account for as much as 50 per cent of their total annual profits and sales.
To support its Christmas deals, the report said Wal-Mart will launch TV ads next week that trumpet "Christmas". The chain is also changing the name of its seasonal decorations department from "The Holiday Shop" to "The Christmas Shop".
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The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Sunday, February 3, 2008, 1:49 (GMT)
I am so happy that this woman stepped forward. Walmart is trying to come to my area and I really had no problems with it until today. My Mother had told me serveral times of people who had problems with the Walmart in her area. They would ask for help and the employee would state they didn't speak English!! Today I drove an hour to take my Mother to the closest store to her to take her shopping and I could not find an item that I was sure would be in the 2 areas I had already tried, I gave up and went to an employee stocking the shelves. I said to her I have been having trouble finding Olives and I have looked where I thought they would be so I give I. Sorry to bother you but could you please tell me where they might be?" She said, Sorry, I no speaka English!" I looked at her and walked away. I found this appalling, I unloaded my cart onto the shelve and walked away, my poor Mom who is 80 yrs old said, "I told you! That happened to Betty too" She stated that some of the people in her senior citizens complex had had the same situation. Well I gotta tell you she begged me to let her pay for what she'd put in her cart already but promised we didn't have to go back there again. I said never would I pay someone's salary who couldn't even speak my language, are they all on green cards???? What is going on this is crazy.
Linda Lafferty, Lancaster, pa
Added: Wednesday, December 6, 2006, 16:18 (GMT)
I'm doing a paper on this topic its very very hard to put it in a two page essay.
Its difficult to your emotions into words but im verry happy to see MERRY CHRISTMAS back at Wal-Mart.
Brandi Gail , Bay Minette Al
Added: Wednesday, November 29, 2006, 2:34 (GMT)
Wal*Mart made the "mistake" of being politically correct and was punished by the too-powerful religious groups. Now, they're offending more people by expressing a preference and contradicting themselves from last year. Frankly, it's disgusting to think that so many people take offense with the nondenominational "Happy Holidays." While this country may have a Christian majority, that in no way makes it a Christian country, and Wal*Mart should be pursuing a business plan that caters to EVERYONE with the widely accepted phrase mentioned above. If people were upset when they were greeted with a generic, nondenominational phrase, imagine how all the people who celebrate other holidays feel when they hear the holiday-specific "Merry Christmas."
John Smith, San Francisco, USA
Added: Thursday, November 23, 2006, 3:16 (GMT)
Merry, Merry Christmas!! They may try to take His name (Christ) out of Christmas one of these days, but they will never take Him out of our hearts, homes, and souls!!!!
Star Stevens, perryton, tx
Added: Monday, November 13, 2006, 14:49 (GMT)
I will now shop at Walmart for the CHRISTMAS season. I also boycotted Walmart when I heard of their decision to implement "Happy Holiday's" instead of "Merry Christmas". My reponse has been in the past, and will continue to be, to reply to anyone who wishes me "Happy Holiday's"...I respond with "Merry Christmas". I will not say Happy Holiday's to anyone...and I won't buy any Christmas Cards that say nothing other than "Merry Christmas". I don't EXPECT everyone to say "Merry Christmas" to me, but as stated above, I always reply any greeting said to me with "Merry Christmas". Hopefully corporate America will follow in Walmarts footsteps....Christ IS the center of the season.
Sarah, Meriden, USA
Added: Friday, November 10, 2006, 22:56 (GMT)
It's about time someone in these United States took a stand for the rights of the American people. I have never begrudged anyone from practicing what they want, but you can't come into this country and expect a nation that is over 200 years in the making to bow to the whims of every person who wants to have the freedom to do what they want without persicution. I will never learn to speak spanish as I was born into the English language, I will never say the pledge of allegience without saying UNDER GOD. So if you foreigners don't like it, move back to your own country.
elizabeth parker, archbold, U. S. A.
Added: Friday, November 10, 2006, 15:35 (GMT)
I am so excited about your return to Christmas. I have boycotted Target the last 2 years and will continue to do so.
Thank you so much for bringing Christmas back to the big retail stores. I will do a lot more shopping for gifts at Walmart this year!
Merry Christmas!!!!!
Rose Vega, Hampton, Virginia
