Immortalized in a 1947 Christmas movie classic, Macy's is now the focus of a boycott campaign protesting the department-store chain's replacement of "Merry Christmas" with politically correct greetings.

1947 Christmas classic "Miracle on 34th Street" featured Macy's department store

A group called the Committee to Save Merry Christmas says Macy's and its umbrella Federated Department Stores have ignored several requests that "Merry Christmas" signs be returned and that its advertising acknowledge the time-honored phrase.

"It's the height of hypocrisy for a corporation to make tens of millions of dollars selling Christmas presents, yet coldly refuse to acknowledge Christmas," said the group's chairman, Manuel Zamorano, in a statement. "What's the holiday all about, anyway? Politically correct phases like 'Seasons Greetings' and 'Happy Holidays' are no substitute for the real thing."

Macy's was featured in "Miracle on 34th Street," the Maureen O'Hara and Natalie Wood film set in the department store's celebration of Christmas. The flagship store in New York also is famous for its elaborate Christmas-season window displays.

Zamorano says Macy's and its affiliated stores have been "systematically" removing references to "Merry Christmas" over the past several years.

"This is offensive to the sensibilities of millions of average Americans," he said. "Eliminating 'Merry Christmas' is plain wrong. It’s time to remove Macy's and Federated from the Christmas shopping list."

Federated Department Stores, Inc., operates more than 450 stores in 34 states under names such as Bloomingdale's, Bon-Macy's, Burdines-Macy's, Goldsmiths-Macy's, Lazarus-Macy's and Rich's Macy's.

Zamorano, a Sacramento, Calif., media consultant, expects his campaign to take several years before it gets results.

One year ago, he wrote to Federated's then-chairman, James Zimmerman, saying he hoped a boycott could be avoided.

"We find this to be personally, culturally and traditionally offensive when it is known by everyone your company actively solicits our patronage and purchasing of gifts for the Christmas celebration, and now refuses to acknowledge Christmas in your stores," Zamorano wrote.

The boycott was launched in May when new Chairman Terry Lundgren did not respond to a follow-up letter.

A Macy's spokeswoman did not return WND's call requesting comment, but the company told Citizen magazine earlier this year it believed Zamorano had unfairly singled out Federated, because other stores have the same practice.

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