Hallmark’s design for a new Christmas ornament comes with an editorial change.
The company released an ornament in the shape of a thick, red Christmas pullover with the words from a well-known Christmas carol across the chest. Well, sort of. Instead of, “Don we now our gay apparel,” Hallmark revised it to read, “Don we now our FUN apparel.”
CNN reported the company defended the change.
“When the lyrics to ‘Deck the Halls’ were translated from Gaelic and published in English back in the 1800s, the word ‘gay’ meant festive or merry,” according to a statement released Wednesday. “Today it has multiple meanings, which we thought could leave our intent open to misinterpretation.”
The Hallmark statement went on to explain the ornament was created in the spirit of “fun”.
“The trend of wearing festively decorated Christmas sweaters to parties is all about fun, and this ornament is intended to play into that,” the statement said. “So the planning team decided to say what we meant: fun.”
The ornament is on sale on the company’s website as part of the Keepsake collection for the price of $12.95.
