Goodbye Christmas lights - "If you don't like it, look to Eastern Europe"
Created: 09/28/2022, 07:20
By: Andreas Sachsen
There won't be any lighting like the one at the Viktualienmarkt in Unterföhring this year.
© Jens Hartmann
Anyone who was looking forward to atmospherically lit streets in Unterföhring must be disappointed.
This is where austerity measures come into play.
Unterföhring
– Skidding through the Christmas season on skids is not possible this year.
The culture committee canceled the ice skating rink that was installed on Bürgerplatz every year in winter.
Even the Christmas lights fall victim to the energy crisis.
The municipality presents a whole catalog of austerity measures.
Ugly War
Christmas in Unterföhring will not be festive.
Even before the meeting of the youth and culture committee, it was clear that they wanted to do without the lighting with poinsettias.
"That will definitely not happen," said a city hall spokesman.
Anyone who doesn't like that should look to Eastern Europe.
An ugly war is raging there, which is also driving Germany to the brink of an energy emergency.
With the misery of the people in Ukraine and the energy crisis in mind, the restrictions announced for the festival are not that bad.
Christmas trees are still going
One is more willing to accept that Christmas should only be represented with three illuminated Christmas trees.
A tree should be in front of the train station, a second one in front of the community center.
The third takes its place at the town hall.
Further savings potentials have been explored.
With the “Ordinance to Secure the Energy Supply on Short-Term Measures”, which came into force on September 1st, the municipality has committed itself to saving energy wherever possible.
Fountain in hibernation
This applies to public buildings: like the fountain at the town hall and the "Sprudler" in front of the community center, all fountains in Unterföhring have been put into winter rest.
The lighting for the parish villa and for the tree spotlights in front of the town hall were switched off.
Lamps on public paths are equipped with motion detectors.
The market roof is no longer illuminated.
Community employees are encouraged not to use air conditioners.
If possible, the heating in the town hall should also be optimized.
Like the building itself, the facility is already 50 years old.
Similar reactions in other communities
From every nook and cranny of the district of Munich one hears about the same efforts being made by almost every municipality.
The members of the Northern Alliance have agreed not to have Christmas lights.
As a reaction to the conflict in the Ukraine, Unterschleißheim founded “AG Energie” in July, which has been mass-producing savings tips for administration, private households and companies ever since (we reported).
Unterschleißheim residents contribute their own suggestions via the citizen participation platform Consul.
ANDREAS SACHSE