Christians Take to Social Media With '#MerryChristmasStarbucks' Campaign to Protest Holiday Red Cups

The Starbucks coffee company has received criticism from some on social media upset with the minimalist design of the brand's new holiday coffee cups.

While in past years, Starbucks has released seasonal disposable cups around the holidays that feature holiday themes, such as snowflakes and sledding, this year the company plans to release just a solid red cup with the Starbucks logo on it for the holiday season.

The company's vice president said in a statement announcing the design that the new cups constitute a "more open way to usher in the holidays," but some are taking to social media with the hashtag "MerryChristmasStarbucks" to argue the brand is attempting the secularize the holidays.

"In the past, we have told stories with our holiday cups designs," Jeffrey Fields, vice president of Design & Content at the coffee company, said in a statement. "This year we wanted to usher in the holidays with a purity of design that welcomes all of our stories."

Despite the company's claims, many coffee drinkers are voicing their disappointment in the company on social media. 

"Come on @Starbucks get rid of the political correctness! #merrychristmasstarbucks," tweeted Jamie Wooten, a resident of Florida.

Joshua Feuerstein, who identifies as an evangelical, posted a video on his Facebook page, arguing that the large coffee company is trying to secularize Christmas, adding that he attempted to "trick" a Starbucks barista by telling them his name was "Merry Christmas" so the holiday greeting would be written on his cup.

Feuerstein argues in the video that the company "wanted to take Christ and Christmas off of their brand new cups. That's why they're just plain red."