Which doesn't define Christmas?

A) The Dictionary

B) Religion

C) Coffee shops such as Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts with their holiday cups?

If you chose C), thank you so much. You truly understand what Christmas means and what it's all about.

Why is there such an uproar about cups? It's something so trivial.

Starbucks recently changed their menu to their holiday theme and presented their new holiday cups (pictured below). This left people divided with some liking the design while others didn't like the design.

Here are some issues.

1. A Cup Defining A Religion

What I really want to know is when did this become a part of religion? It's a place I go to to get my usual passion tea lemonade, vanilla bean frappuccino, or sweetened vanilla iced coffee with an extra espresso shot. Though I never saw Starbucks as a religious place, many Christians had negative thoughts to say about this cup. They're upset how it doesn't display something of the Christmas holiday on it. When was Starbucks a representation of Christmas? When did a cup, yes, a cup define a holiday? Specifically, a religious holiday that has nothing to do with coffee. Many decided to not support Starbucks and some decided to say "Merry Christmas" when asked for their name with their order. Christmas isn't defined by Starbucks, it's defined by religion itself.

2. Simple Design=Respect For The Holiday

As these cups begin to change after mid fall, as seen from years 2009 to 2014, Christmas themed cups have been made. Starbucks' 2015 simple design is unique in how it respects the holiday. Christmas is December 25th while Thanksgiving is November 26th. It's acknowledging the Christmas colors while maintaining that a) it isn't December yet b) it's nowhere near Christmas. I feel that it's a way of Starbucks showing its holiday spirit without pushing for Christmas itself. Yes, I and many love the Christmas spirit, but wait until Thanksgiving is over. One holiday at a time.

3. A Competition Among Two Coffee Shops

The Washington Post posted about Dunkin' Donuts releasing a holiday cup (pictured below) and it has now become compared to Starbucks in terms of its "Christmas" looks.(Dunkin' Donuts' Instagram Account)

This really is an issue because people are comparing two coffee shops in terms of how "Christmas" their cups are which definitely isn't what Christmas is about. Christmas is about happiness, spending time with family and friends, not spending time worrying about which coffee shop to go to in terms of how much they promote Christmas. Will this competition really matter in the long run? No. But is it an issue that it's been given this much attention? Yes. It's a cup you drink out of and throw away, not a big deal.

There are many other important matters to read about/act on.

*restates*

There are many other important matters to read about/act on.