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In Besançon, the expression "Fantastic December" questions

2021-11-29T16:53:50.393Z


The city's communications campaign used this formula. What does it mean? The editorial team takes stock.


In Besançon, as Christmas approaches, we can wish each other a

“fantastic December”

. In any case, this is what the illuminations of the city on which we can read this formula suggest. It has been chosen by the city's Christmas program since 2019, to

"promote the entertainment program throughout the month of December"

, explained the Office of Commerce and Handicrafts, in response to a tweet from the deputy. Éric Ciotti (The Republicans). The latter cracked Monday, November 29 with a criticism of the slogan:

"In Besançon, thanks to the green mayor, we no longer say 'Merry Christmas' but rather 'fantastic December'"

.

It is in fact under the mandate of Jean-Louis Fousseret, member of the Socialist Party and mayor of the city until 2020, that the name of this advertising campaign was born.

A strange choice, when no one uses this formula.

What does this linguistic choice mean?

The editorial team takes stock.

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In recent years, it has been clear that the word

“Christmas”

has been used less in public spaces, thanks to

“happy holidays”

or

“end-of-year festivities”

, formulas that have been used extensively on the decorations of cities and towns. of the communes.

Would

“Christmas”

be shunned by the French? Borrowed from the Latin

natalis

, it means

"from birth, relating to birth"

, informs the Treasury of the French language. It subsequently designates the

"day of birth"

, used in ecclesiastical Latin to designate

"the Nativity of Christ."

It is indeed the birth of Jesus that we celebrate on December 25, since the 4th century.

This date was chosen because it corresponded to a pagan festival which celebrated the invincible Sun, celebrated with great fires, at the time when the days were lengthening.

Christ was indeed quickly associated with the sun, and its powerful light.

If we look at the meaning of the word

"joyous"

, we learn that he was born of

goiuse

, and describes the one who

“feels, who breathes joy”

.

In the thirteenth century, this is what

“expresses joy”

, a state felt on the day of the birth of Christ, who came to earth to save humanity from death and sin.

Fantastic: what is "imaginary, unreal"

“Fantastic December”

, as the name of an advertising campaign, falls within the lineage of a lexicon which distances itself from the religious character of Christmas.

"Fantastic"

means:

"which is created by the imagination, which does not exist in reality"

, one reads in the dictionary. Borrowed from the low Latin

phantasticus

,

"imaginary, unreal"

, in the 16th century it designates a

"mad maniac"

. The Christmas party would therefore be something that would be in the realm of the imagination, the illusion that something special is happening, but which is just a dream.

"Fantastic"

was also, a few years ago, a superlative that we used banally, replaced today by

“super”

or

“genial”

.

A symbolism that no longer has much to do with the etymological and spiritual meaning of the word.

As for

"December"

, it comes from the Latin

december

, derived from

decem "ten"

, December being the tenth month of the year.

This choice of communication campaign name is strange.

Under the guise of innovation, we propose an abstruse, even ridiculous formula.

Who really wishes themselves a

“fantastic December”

?

The word

“Christmas”

has definitely got its head on.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2021-11-29

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