Strasbourg had to give up its Christmas market, but not its Christmas tree.
The traditional Christmas tree arrived on Monday, November 2 on Place Kléber, in the historic heart of the city.
It is 30 meters high, is 60 years old and weighs 6.5 tons, according to France Bleu.
Read also: "Four weeks of confinement will not be enough to spend Christmas as if nothing had happened"
The mayor of Strasbourg Jeanne Barseghian (EELV) wished to keep this symbol of the end of year celebrations.
“
Our times are extremely anxiety-provoking.
I am convinced that we must keep these strong symbols, which constitute positive benchmarks for all of us
, ”Guillaume Lisbig, deputy mayor of Strasbourg said on Facebook.
“
This year more than ever, Christmas must be the celebration of appeasement and solidarity.
This tree is there to remind us
”
The atmosphere is not yet at the party, in Strasbourg: the Christmas tree and the illuminations will constitute the main part of the end-of-year activities this year.
The sudden worsening of the Covid-19 epidemic got the better of the city's Christmas market, the largest and most famous in France.
Two million tourists usually come from all over the world to admire the illuminations and stroll among the 300 wooden chalets.
The Covid-19 will therefore have come to the end of an event which, in Strasbourg's memory, had only been suspended during World War II.
Even the jihadist attack of 2018, which left 5 dead and bereaved the city, only resulted in the closure of its market for two days.
Bordeaux still deprived of fir trees
In Bordeaux, on the other hand, despite the cancellation of the Christmas market again, there will be no tree.
Pierre Hurmic, environmental mayor of the city, spoke against this tradition which "
is expensive
" and "
is no longer adapted to current climatic conditions
".
This decision had provoked strong reactions.
An online petition “
Bordeaux wants to keep its Christmas tree!
Was launched on the announcement of this decision: it has this Monday, November 2 more than 16,800 signatories.
To read also: Pierre Hurmic: "This evening when I switch Bordeaux into the alternation after 25 years of opposition"
The environmentalist mayor of Bordeaux, however, confirmed in an interview with Sud Ouest that “
the agitation
” caused by this decision will “
not change his choices
”.
"
I was quite flabbergasted
" by the strength of the negative reactions, declared Pierre Hurmic. "
The buzz did not come from journalists, but from the fascosphere which took hold of the subject by saying that I was against the holidays. of Christmas.
I regret all the same that certain elected members of the opposition have also seized on it
”.
Instead of the Christmas tree, the ecological mayor says he wants to "
innovate
" and invest the money thus released (60,000 euros according to
South West
) in live shows.
"
But if our team realizes that the new activities do not appeal to the people of Bordeaux, then we will review our position,
" he added.
