Tesco has been accused of surrendering to 'woke' culture, sparking fury among its customer base and prompting calls for a boycott. The controversy erupted after the supermarket giant began labelling its traditional Christmas trees as 'evergreen trees'.
Shoppers Voice Outrage on Social Media
The decision quickly ignited a firestorm on social media platforms. On X, formerly Twitter, user @Mofoman360 expressed their dismay, writing: "Tut tut Tesco pandering to the WOKE generation and calling their CHRISTMAS tree an EVERGREEN one. Boycott Tesco." This sentiment was echoed by numerous other shoppers who saw the move as an unnecessary dilution of Christmas traditions.
Patrick Jones questioned the logic behind the change, asking: "'Evergreen Trees'… so @Tesco is 'Christmas' the new hurty word to your woke sales people? I guess all of us who want a christmas tree will shop elsewhere." The perception that a long-standing custom was being erased was a common theme, with Bonnie Gibbs posting on Facebook: "I’m sorry I do not agree with Tesco calling Christmas trees evergreen trees, when you buy a tree do you say we’re going to buy an evergreen tree, it’s ridiculous, our customs are being erased."
The Call for a Boycott and Tesco's Response
Anger swiftly translated into action, with many customers urging a widespread boycott of the retailer. Jan Harrison's Facebook post summed up the feeling for many: "Good grief .... woke tesco ... it's Christmas and it's a Christmas tree .... boycott Tesco ......" Paul Lewis went a step further, suggesting shoppers take their business to competitors like Aldi, accompanied by the popular phrase, "Go woke, go broke!"
In response to the growing backlash, a Tesco spokesperson provided clarification to MailOnline on November 19, 2025. The supermarket stated that it is very much celebrating Christmas and has a full range of real and artificial trees available. They explained that the 'evergreen tree' label was simply used to indicate the specific type of Christmas tree contained within the box, aiming to provide clearer product description for customers.
A Wider Cultural Debate
This incident highlights a broader cultural tension. For shoppers like Margie Taylor, the issue is about the majority feeling subjected to changes for a minority. She wrote, "Why should the majority of people who celebrate CHRISTMAS be subjected to all this woke nonsense and pandering to the minority? It is NOT an EVERGREEN tree, it is a CHRISTMAS tree." The situation at Tesco demonstrates how seemingly small changes in retail language can become flashpoints in larger societal discussions about tradition, inclusivity, and commercial policy.
