DENVER -- Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper said Thursday that's he's no Scrooge and won't have the "Merry Christmas" sign on the City and County Building removed next season.

Hickenlooper, returning from a three-day trip to the East Coast, landed in a hornet's nest of controversy that also included the banning of a church group from Denver's Parade of Lights because it wanted to carry a "Merry Christmas" sign and sing religious Christmas carols.

But the mayor's immediate problem was the announcement over the Thanksgiving holiday that Hickenlooper wanted to put up a "Happy Holidays" sign next year to replace the current "Merry Christmas" sign.

Thursday, he was backpedaling.

"Over the past several days, it has become clear to me that there is strong community sentiment to maintain the 'Merry Christmas' sign, and I am glad to oblige," Hickenlooper said in a prepared statement. "My intention was never to disrespect or slight anyone or any religious tradition. I apologize to anyone who may have been offended or mistakenly felt I was being anti-Christmas. 'Hickenlooper' might have two Os, but I am not Scrooge. We are happy to keep the 'Merry Christmas' sign, and perhaps we can explore the possibility of also adding a 'Happy Holidays’ sign to the display next year."

The mayor said he was under the impression that the existing "Merry Christmas" sign was becoming worn and would need to be replaced and that's why he suggested replacing it with "Happy Holidays."

The story, combined with the decision by organizers of Denver's 9NEWS Parade of Lights to keep a religious float out of the parade, garnered the city nationwide attention.

The Mayor also said the nativity scene would also remain a part of the City and County Building display.

The supreme courts of Colorado and the United States have ruled that nativity scenes can be installed on government property if decorations also include other non-religious figures such as Santa Claus and reindeer.

"Over the decades, some have questioned the appropriateness of a nativity scene at the City and County Building," Hickenlooper's statement said. "But the courts decided that issue long ago. The nativity scene remains a part of the holiday display, and out of respect for a long-standing community tradition, there are no plans otherwise."

The Downtown Denver Partnership also issued a statement about the controversy over banning a church group from the 9NEWS Parade of Lights.

"Our policy, which we have applied consistently for years, is to not include religious or political messages in the parade -- in the interest of not excluding any group," the statement said.

The downtown partnership said it reviews parade policies on an annual basis.