(12/5/2005)

The War on Christmas

AFA provides questions and answers on retailers

(Tupelo, MS) - Due to a large request for clarification involving AFA’s efforts targeting companies that do not use “Christmas” in their in-store promotions and advertising, the AFA responded with a question and answer fact sheet.

1.What is the main problem with Target and Christmas? ANSWER: AFA’s issue with Target flows from two concerns. First, Target does not use the word “Christmas” in any of their in-store promotions or advertising. The company itself does not display the word “Christmas” anywhere. You will see it only on other company products that Target is selling, such as “Christmas ornaments.” Secondly, Target has banned The Salvation Army kettles from their store for the second year. At a time when The Salvation Army desperately needs help in assisting hurricane victims, Target is making a profit off the charity after the store kicked them out. Here is how. You purchase products online through Target at retail price for The Salvation Army, but Target charges you the regular price plus a hefty shipping fee, no specials or discounts. If you purchase a $50 blender and pay shipping and handling, Target profits off your goodwill. The bulk of it went to Target coffers. This may be good business, but it’s not charity.

2.Can Target employees say the greeting “Merry Christmas?” ANSWER: Target employees are allowed to say “Merry Christmas.” Our issue is that Target refuses to use the word “Christmas” in their in-store promotions and advertising. (See #5 also)

3.Are you boycotting Target and for how long? ANSWER: AFA is officially boycotting Target until they agree to use “Christmas” in their in-store promotions and advertising. Currently, almost 600,000 individuals, who represent many families, have pledged to boycott Target.

4.Has AFA accused any companies of not allowing the use of the phrase “Merry Christmas” in their stores? ANSWER: We recognize most stores’ stated policy allows their employees to greet customers however they choose. We are focusing on companies that are being politically correct and do not use the word “Christmas” in their in-store promotions and advertising while making the bulk of their profit off the celebrated Christmas holiday.

5.Has AFA surveyed any circulars and if so, what did you find? ANSWER: AFA surveyed 11 holiday sale circulars (newspaper advertising inserts). Out of 280 pages total, the word “Christmas” was used only twice, and “holiday” was used 59 times. (click here for detailed listing)

6.What has the AFA asked these corporations to do and what has been their response? ANSWER: AFA understands it is too late to change printed advertising and promotions for this year but is requesting that the companies make a promise to change for 2006 to use the term “Christmas” during their promotions. We will post all store responses that we receive.

7.What about Wal-Mart and The Salvation Army? ANSWER: Because of Target’s actions, The Salvation Army is losing an estimated $8.9 million that it would collect annually in front of Target stores. Thankfully, Wal-Mart is extending the number of days by ten to allow the bell ringers in front of their stores. Wal-Mart also increased its donation to the charity.

8.Last year AFA and others pointed out that the Federated Stores (Macy's,etc.) had omitted Christmas from their stores. Did anything change this year? ANSWER: YES! AFA supporters, along with other groups, contacted Federated Stores to communicate their displeasure with the stores “banning” the word “Christmas.” This year Federated stores are using the word “Christmas” in their stores and advertising.

9.What happened with Lowe’s and their “holiday” trees? ANSWER: The Lowe's company was advertising their trees as “holiday” trees at the end of November, but after AFA supporters contacted Lowe's, they quickly notified AFA admitting it was an unintentional mistake and now have changed the store banners to read “Christmas” trees.

10.What is wrong with replacing “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays?” ANSWER: When you take away “Christmas” and replace it with a very generic term like holiday, you take away the very essence of what is being celebrated. Most people don’t buy holiday gifts, but they buy Christmas gifts. Most people don’t buy gifts for Thanksgiving or New Year’s but for Christmas. A recent poll found 96 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas, and when companies refuse to recognize Christmas for what it is while profiting from it, they diminish the value of a special holiday. The majority who celebrate Christmas find it offensive that the private sector is increasingly "banning" the name of their holiday.