Christmas Returns to Target

(November 12, 2024) — Starting November 7, Target has debuted Black Friday deals daily and weekly throughout the holiday season until December 24. Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) announced new holiday deals, dropping daily and every week of the season to make consumers’ holiday shopping even more magical and affordable. The retailer is bringing back its popular Deal of the Day Nov. 1 through Dec. 24, with one-day-only deals up to 50% off and many exclusive deals for members of its free-to-join Target Circle program. Each week, consumers will also enjoy a new lineup of weeklong deals dropping every Sunday. On top of that, Target will debut the Early Black Friday Sale, a new three-day holiday deals event Nov. 7-9 for consumers who love the thrill of early Black Friday deal hunting.

After more than ten years of controversy, social media users have reported that the phrase “Merry Christmas” is returning to Target aisles. In recent years, the retailer, to appeal to a more “woke” audience, made several changes to align with contemporary sensibilities, one of which was replacing “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays” in its holiday decorations.

It’s worth noting that this change sparked criticism, with many accusing the company of “censoring the true meaning of Christmas.”  For example, in 2021, Liberty Counsel published its annual “Naughty Retailer List,” which highlighted businesses that either “acknowledge and celebrate Christmas” or “silence and censor Christmas.” Target was listed among those accused of the latter.

In 2011, Forbes published an article listing Target among companies that had faced “a great deal of negative media coverage and consumer rejection” for “taking the word Christmas out of their advertising campaigns.”

Several retail giants learned this the hard way when they began omitting the word “Christmas” from their November and December ad campaigns in an attempt to be politically correct. Lowe’s, Home Depot, Sears, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and GAP have all felt the wrath of believers when they abandoned Christmas for more generic wishes like “happy holidays.”

More than ten years later, the reasons behind the change remain unclear – whether it’s a response to the widespread conservative shift in society following the Republican Party’s successes and President Donald Trump’s influence or something else entirely.

However, one thing is sure: “Merry Christmas” is again a reality in Target’s aisles.

Finally, Target is also debuting a new holiday mascot, “Berry the Bear”. The retailer plans to feature a 9-foot-tall version in real life at nine locations. Berry will also appear in select stores during November and December, where Target will unveil four different mini versions of the bear to give away to Target Circle members on Nov. 9, Nov. 29, Dec. 7, and Dec. 21.