Hallmark goes politically correct with Christmas ornament
Oct 31, 2013, 11:29 AM | Updated: 2:42 pm
Hallmark has been defending itself this week after they began selling an ornamental, miniaturized version of the ugly holiday sweater. (Image courtesy Hallmark.com)
(Image courtesy Hallmark.com)
Hallmark is under fire this week after they began selling an ornamental, miniaturized version of the ugly holiday sweater. The ornament, which sells for $12.95, is emblazoned with the phrase: “Don we now our FUN apparel!”
“With its catchy phrase, Don we now our FUN apparel! everyone will be in on the joke,” says the ornament description at Hallmark.com.
Critics took to Twitter and Hallmark’s Facebook page, accusing the company of making a political statement by using the word “fun” to replace “gay” in the lyric from the “Deck the Halls” Christmas carol.
“Can’t we still say ‘gay apparel?’ Isn’t that allowed anymore?,” says KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson.
KIRO Radio Anchor Ursula Reutin agrees, saying the lyrics of “Deck the Halls” date back to the 1800’s.
Hallmark released a statement saying the multiple meanings attached to the word “gay” meant the sweater’s lyrics would be “open to misinterpretation.”
“Hallmark created this year’s Holiday Sweater ornament in the spirit of fun. When the lyrics to “Deck the Halls” were translated from Gaelic —
“Which by the way, shouldn’t we call it ‘Funlic’ from now on?” says Dori. “Can we still call it Gaelic?”
The statement revised by The Dori Monson Show:
“Hallmark created this year’s Holiday Sweater ornament in the spirit of fun. When the lyrics to “Deck the Halls” were translated from Gaelic [funlic] and published in English back in the 1800s, the word “gay” meant festive or merry. Today it has multiple meanings, which we thought could leave our intent open to misinterpretation,” the statement read. “The trend of wearing festively decorated Christmas sweaters to parties is all about fun, and this ornament is intended to play into that, so the planning team decided to say what we meant: “fun.” That’s the spirit we intended and the spirit in which we hope ornament buyers will take it.”
“I’m going to sing this song in its original funlic when I get together at our Christmas caroling party this year,” says Dori.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
