Johannesburg - Outrage has boiled over after Starbucks went with a minimal design for its traditional festive season cups, angering Christian evangelists.
The coffee chain, which puts a theme on its cups each year to celebrate the festive season, this year opted for a simple red, green and white design - traditional Christmas colours.
However, some evangelists are less than pleased with the move.
Joshua Feuerstein, who describes himself as an American evangelist, internet and social media personality, lashed out at the chain via Facebook on Thursday in a video post that has since gone viral.
The post, which has been viewed almost 12 million times, is accompanied by comment that states: “Starbucks REMOVED CHRISTMAS from their cups because they hate Jesus ... SO I PRANKED THEM ... and they HATE IT!!!! #share
Use #MERRYCHRISTMASSTARBUCKS [sic].”
Starbucks REMOVED CHRISTMAS from their cups because they hate Jesus ... SO I PRANKED THEM ... and they HATE IT!!!! #shareUse #MERRYCHRISTMASSTARBUCKSFollow --> Joshua Feuerstein
Posted by Joshua Feuerstein on Thursday, 5 November 2015
That has led to a flurry of Facebook activity, with comments such as one from Mrs. Betty Bowers, who calls herself America's Best Christian, saying: “For a holiday stolen from the pagans, Christians can be pretty bossy about the decorations.”
Billy Hallowell noted: “The new Starbucks holiday, but really non-holiday cups are the most obnoxiously boring-looking things in the world.”
Others have also lashed out at Starbucks over the “cuptroversy,” threatening to never shop in the outlets again.
Breitbart London also quotes Andrea Williams of Christian Concern as saying: “This is a denial of historical reality and the great Christian heritage behind the American Dream that has so benefited Starbucks.
“This also denies the hope of Jesus Christ and His story told so powerfully at this time of year.”
According to Wikipedia, celebratory customs associated with Christmas have a mix of pre-Christian, Christian, and secular themes and origins. It also notes, because the month and date of Jesus' birth - which Christmas is meant to celebrate - are unknown, the date of December 25 was selected in the early-to-mid 4th century by the Western Christian Church.
However, the practice of decorating trees does not seem to have arisen until around the 15th century.
Starbucks has explained the design in a statement, noting it “has become a place of sanctuary during the holidays. We’re embracing the simplicity and the quietness of it. It’s [a] more open way to usher in the holiday.”
Starbucks announced the cups in a November 1 post on facebook, which has been liked by 565 667 people.
The coffee chain is set to open in SA next year as Taste Holdings, the owners of Domino’s and Scooters Pizza, are bringing the international brand to South Africa through an exclusive licensed partnership. Taste owns the exclusive rights to develop Starbucks retail outlets in the country.
Starbucks and Taste Holdings will design and build stores serving the entire Starbucks range alongside its advanced digital offering for customers, including free wi-fi. Starbucks, which has 22 000 locations, already has a presence in Africa in Egypt and Morocco.
Starbucks' local partner sees potential for more than 200 of the US chain's coffee shops in South Africa within five years, and the first store is expected in Gauteng in the first half of 2016.
IOL