Starbucks brings back red cups for 2016 holiday season (with a twist)

Nov 10 2016, 5:58 am

If there’s anything that can bring people together in a time of deep cultural and political divide, it’s the design on the seasonal paper cups holding our $5 coffees from an international megachain. So thank goodness Starbucks Canada, like our neighbours to the south, are going red right now: Red cups are back for the 2016 holiday season.

But this year, there’s a twist: We, the people, designed them.

Last year, Starbucks turned to the public to submit cup designs, and the masses responded with their efforts. In fact, says Starbucks, over 1,200 submissions came in from around the globe.

Starbucks chose 13 designs, including two by Canadians.

Anna from Toronto’s design features reindeer and a Christmas-sweater worthy snowy scene over a gingerbread village. Erica, from Markham, Ontario, has a swirly design she came up with while doodling on a cup last year, and a design she feels honours her own heritage of celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas.

Erica's winning design (Photo courtesy Starbucks)

Erica’s winning design (Photo courtesy Starbucks)

You’ll see ornaments, reindeer, holiday lights, and snowflakes galore on the red cups for 2016, which can hopefully soothe any Xmas rage you might otherwise feel.

Thanks to the return of the simple, cheery red cups, coffee and tea lovers no longer have to wrestle with their expensive coffee habit contributing to the removal of Christ from Christmas. Nor will we have to sip from perplexing paper cups with a reddish ombre effect, like the national horror that we endured in 2015. There’s no ish here this year. These cups are festive AF.

Hark, the herald angels will sing of the arrival of the red cups at Starbucks Canada locations on Thursday, November 10. Then you can fill them with your holiday favourites like the Chestnut Praline Latte, the Peppermint Mocha, the Egg Nog Latte, and the Caramel Brulee Latte, and the Gingerbread Latte.

Lindsay William-RossLindsay William-Ross

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