Elves and Grinches for 2006

This year’s “Naughty and Nice” list of corporate Christmas elves and grinches is out from Liberty Counsel.

Among the grinches are:

• Banana Republic - Web site has "Holiday Gift Guide" with no mention of any Christmas.


• Bed Bath & Beyond - No mention of any holidays.


• Barnes & Noble - Web site says Gift guide, Holiday gift baskets, Holiday sled, Holiday delivery but NO Christmas. Physical stores not allowed to put up Christmas trees, employees not allowed to say Merry Christmas.


• Best Buy - Web site says "Unique gifts for the season," "Holiday gift ideas." Spokesperson said they consider the use of "Merry Christmas" to be disrespectful.


• Dick’s Sporting Goods - Web site says gifts and has images, but no mention of Christmas.


• Eddie Bauer - Customer service would not recognize Christmas, they "don’t want to offend Jews, those who celebrate Kwanza and those who have no religious preference."


• Gap - "Holiday Survival Guide" no mention of Christmas.


• Home Depot - Web site says Holiday Store and Holiday lighting and only at bottom of site says "Make your Christmas decorations complete." Physical store has Holiday Home Accents.


• K-Mart - Selling "Holiday trees" and "Holiday wreaths."


• Lowes - In 2005, Lows stated they would modify their ads and no longer say things such as "Holiday trees", however, their Web site has Holiday Living department and Holiday gift cards. Will not allow employees to greet customers with "Merry Christmas".


• Mills Fleet Farm - (WI, MN, IA and ND) Changed their Christmas Catalog to "Toy and Gift Catalog", replaced Christmas signs with "Holiday" signs. No mention of Christmas at all.


• Old Navy - Web site has "Holiday Gift Guide," "Holiday gift boxes" but no Christmas.


• Petsmart - Has a Holiday Shop, and Luv-a-pet ornaments.


• Toys ‘R’ Us - No mention of Christmas. "...Toys ‘R’ Us aims to be neutral in this regard... We endeavor to make our stores festive, while respecting that our customers celebrate many different customs throughout the holidays."

The elves:

• Dillard’s - Advertising their Christmas Catalog.


• JC Penney - Web site has their Christmas shipping countdown.


• Joann Fabrics - Offers Christmas and Holiday fabrics.


• Kohl’s - Christmas is all over TV, print and radio ads.


• L.L. Bean - Advertising and distributing their Christmas Catalog.


• Linens ‘N Things - Has a Christmas Shop and Christmas Checklist.


• Macy’s - "Merry Christmas!" on the homepage of their Web site.


• Michaels - Web site has a Christmas section.


• M&M-Mars Candies - Will have red and green candies with pictures of Christmas trees and angels among other images.


• Target - Web site says Christmas Decor, though the physical store has Holiday entertaining. End of television ad says "Merry Christmas".


• Wal-Mart - Has a Christmas Shop, plays Christmas carols, and employees can say "Merry Christmas."


• Sears - Stores have signs that say "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" although Web site just says "holidays".

I confess, when someone wishes me “Happy Holidays,” I usually respond, “Really? Which one?”

It’s not my place to tell you where to spend your money. As for me, however…