When the Live Oak Wal-Mart decided to donate store Christmas decorations to local organizations earlier than normal, corporate officials may not have realized how local residents would react.

Scores of comments critical of the move were posted within hours on Facebook.

The display was reinstalled Tuesday morning.

Wal-Mart’s corporate headquarters was contacted by the Democrat for an explanation of the removal.

Wal-Mart corporate spokeswoman Ashley Hardie denied the Christmas decorations were removed from the Live Oak store due to customer complaints, as had been rumored.

Hardie said Wal-Mart stores across the country, including Live Oak, routinely donate their trees to local organizations toward the end of the holiday season. This year corporate headquarters asked its stores to donate the trees a little earlier than usual, so the organizations could use them during Christmas. Hardie said the trees are often removed early to make way for other Christmas decorations including poinsettias, as well.