"Merry Christmas" is making a comeback.

Wal-Mart this week joined a growing number of retailers who are once again using "Christmas" in their holiday advertising campaigns.

America's largest retailer took the word out of its advertisements last year, but is bringing it back after a massive public outcry, which included 700,000 people signing petitions. Wishing for a bigger holiday season after a sluggish fall, the chain said Thursday that 60 percent more of its merchandise will be labeled with "Christmas" this year. And customers will hear Christmas carols as they shop.

Kohl's Corp. and Walgreen Co. also are putting the word Christmas back in their advertisements. Macy's, after using the more inclusive "Happy Holidays" in its ads and in-store promotions in 2004, resumed the use of "Merry Christmas" last year and will continue. Farmer Jack grocery store never stopped using it.

A "Happy Holiday" backlash last year sparked online petition drives, protests and calls for boycotts by conservative Christians who claimed retailers and others were taking the "Christ out of Christmas." Critics argued that "Happy Holidays" and other such non-sectarian phrases are inclusive of other religions and recognize that not everyone in the United States celebrates Christmas.

So while many retailers, including Best Buy Co., are sticking with Happy Holidays, others are embracing Christmas again, as well as the other holidays of the season: Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

Other changes in Wal-Mart's ad campaign include hanging "Days 'til Christmas" signs in the stores to provide a countdown for customers and offering gift cards with Santa and the words "Merry Christmas." Sales associates at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club are being encouraged to greet customers with various phrases such as Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hanukkah and Feliz Navidad.

"This year, more than ever, our shoppers will see and hear more about Christmas and the incredible values Wal-Mart is providing for their holiday shopping needs," John Fleming, executive vice president of marketing, said in a press release.

Farmer Jack grocery stores have used and always will use Christmas, Hanukkah and other religious terms to advertise, spokeswoman Angie Bournais said. In fact, the company makes a point of highlighting all religious holidays.

"We joyously acknowledge and celebrate every holidaybecause traditionally, food is at the center of these celebrations," Bournais said. "We mention all the holidays because we provide the food for all of them."

Stores make smart move

Wal-Mart is smart to embrace the word again as its competitors also reincorporate Christmas into the holiday shopping season, said Jeff Stoltman, assistant professor of marketing at Wayne State University.

After trying too hard to be politically correct, companies realized that shoppers tend to associate "Christmas" with buying presents, not a religious affiliation.

"It's not the day -- Dec. 25 -- that Wal-Mart is talking about; it's the selling season," Stoltman said. "Christmas is traditionally more consistent with the selling season."

Wal-Mart's decision is not an issue for the local Jewish community, said Wendy Wagenheim, president of the Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit. It's just a business decision.

"Companies can advertise any way they choose," Wagenheim said. "It makes sense that they would choose to advertise a national holiday."

For Christian groups, the change means that the meaning of Christmas isn't lost in the effort to be politically correct.

The American Family Association, a conservative Christian group that protested when Wal-Mart cut the word from its ads, is glad Christmas will be part of the retailer's ads again.

"We didn't force them to change because we don't have the power to do that, but I think we forced them to take a closer look into the matter in the boardroom," said Buddy Smith, executive assistant to the chairman.

The AFA doesn't have a problem with other religions being mentioned in Wal-Mart's ads, Smith said, as long as the Christian aspect of the holiday isn't cut out.

It doesn't matter to Stacie Walsh of Royal Oak which words Wal-Mart uses or doesn't use. She'll shop there anyway if the price is right.

"I have about 20 people to buy for and I don't make enough money to think about who's being PC," said Walsh, a hairdresser. "If Wal-Mart sells the scarf my mom wants for cheaper, then I'll get it at Wal-Mart."