If you rolled up to your local Starbucks this morning to get your fix, you might have noticed that your cup looked a lot different from your usual fare. In fact, upon seeing the new design that rolled out Nov. 1, a lot of people are wondering why the Starbucks holiday cups are green. Plot twist! They aren't. The green cups aren't the Starbucks holiday cups, but rather part of a community initiative started by Starbucks to promote unity and togetherness. The design, which incorporates the line drawings of dozens of people, is actually strung together all in one single line; the artist, Shogo Ota, created it to represent "humanity and connection, serving as a symbol for bringing people together as a united community," according to Starbucks.
After a year like 2016 and a mere seven days before the U.S. presidential election, the timing of this temporary cup could not be more appropriate. “The green cup and the design represent the connections Starbucks has as a community with its partners (employees) and customers," wrote Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz in a press release. "During a divisive time in our country, Starbucks wanted to create a symbol of unity as a reminder of our shared values, and the need to be good to each other."
As awesome as the sentiment behind these are, though, the longtime fans of Starbucks holiday cups are probably wondering what this means for the launch of those. In that regard, it doesn't look as though the launch of these green cups will affect the launch of our beloved red cups in any way; fans are speculating that they will still be launched in their usual fashion sometime in mid-November. (The election will be over! WE ARE SO CLOSE, EVERYONE.)
In the meantime, Starbucks holiday drinks have officially launched as of Nov. 1, including old time favorites Chestnut Praline Latte, Caramel Brulée Latte, and Peppermint Mocha. So fret not for your red cups. For a limited time, you'll be able to get your holiday drinks in a green one, and then the real holiday cups will come. But in the meantime, let's appreciate the awesome sentiment behind the green cups, which are an extremely necessary reminder that we are still continuing to all work toward a common good — even if sometimes it doesn't seem as loud as all the hate. As for helping foster a sense of community, no matter what color the cup, we can all drink to that.
Images: Courtesy of Starbucks; Carolyn Lagattuta/Stocksy
