It’s that time of year again—for the Running of the Lists. Not for children. For merchants.

You’d better watch out!

You’d better not cry!

You’d better not pout;

I’m telling you why!

Santa Claus is coming to town.

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He’s making a list

And checking it twice!

He wants to find out who’s naughty and nice!

Santa Claus is coming to town.

Actually, what Nicholas of Myra would make today of what people make of him, no one can begin to guess. Nicholas made his reputation by encouraging others to be generous. (Though in one memorable case, those who made a sacrificial gift at his request, literally did not miss it later on.)

But if Nicholas isn’t running any lists, the American Family Association is.

Christmas friendly merchants

The AFA’s Naughty and Nice List is not a list for children. It is a list for merchants. The Association seeks to honor those merchants who use the word Christmas most often, in their print advertising, radio/TV spots, web site, and in-store displays. (The AFA does not assess “banner ads.”)

Herewith the list of the merchants whom the AFA wishes to honor the most:

ACE Hardware
Amazon.com
Bass Pro Shops
Bed Bath & Beyond
Belk
Best Buy
Big Lots
Books-A-Million
Cabella’s
Collective Brands
Costco
CVS Pharmacy
Dick’s Sporting Goods
Dilliards
Dollar General
Dollar Tree
H.E.B. Stores
HSN.com
Hallmark
Hancock Fabrics
Harris Teeter Stores
Hobby Lobby
Home Shopping Network
JC Penney
JoAnn Fabrics & Crafts Stores
Kmart Kohl’s
Kroger
Lowe’s
Macy’s
Marshals
Meijer
Menard’s
Michael’s Stores
Neiman Marcus
Nordstrom
Office Max
Petsmart
Pier One Imports
ProFlowers.com
Publix
QVC.com
Rite Aid
Sears
Scheels Sporting Goods
Super D Drug Stores
Target
TJ Maxx
Toys R Us
True Value
Walgreens
Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club
Zappos.com

CNAV wishes all its readers a Merry Christmas—or Chag Chanukkah, as the case might be.