Hallmark Drops ‘Gay’ From Lyrics On Ornament

"Deck the Halls" is one of the most well-known Christmas carols of all time.  But the Hallmark greeting card company has decided to "update" the lyrics on one of its 2013 ornaments.  

The original verse goes: "Don we now our gay apparel."   But Hallmark's version, which appears on an ornament designed as an ugly Christmas sweater goes: "Don we know our fun apparel."   

The company's Facebook page has received posts criticizing that decision.  A woman who described herself as a Hallmark Gold Crown Rewards member posted that by changing the lyric, the company has made an unnecessary political statement.

Hallmark issued a statement to the media saying the history of the song dating back to the 1880's, a time when "gay"  meant festive or merry.  They went on to say that today the word has multiple meanings which they thought could lead to misinterpretation.  

CNN