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Bordeaux: Mayor cancels Christmas trees in city
The ecologically-minded mayor will not decorate Bordeaux with “dead trees” this festive season, he has said, claiming they go against his “concept of re-vegetation” for the city.
Mayor Pierre Hurmic announced yesterday (September 10) that the town hall will replace traditional Christmas trees with "live displays" this year.
In a press conference, he said: “We will not put dead trees in city squares. I have memories of this dead tree that we used to bring in every year...That is not at all our concept of re-vegetation.”
Mr Hurmic is a member of the green Europe Ecologie Les Verts (EELV) party. When elected mayor, he declared a “state of climate emergency” in the city, and announced plans to “re-vegetate” areas in the city centre before the end of 2020.
One of these areas is Place Pey Berland, the large square in front of Bordeaux cathedral where the city’s largest Christmas tree usually stands.
The mayor also plans to implement a “charter of rights for trees” that will specify rules for their protection.
Christmas tree ban met with opposition
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Mr Hurmic’s announcement has been met with opposition online, with one Twitter-user writing: “The Christmas tree brings children joy, and no “live show” will be as good at capturing the magic of Christmas.”
Décision ridicule et caricaturale,ce sapin faisait la joie des enfants et aucun « spectacle vivant » ne reflétera aussi bien la magie de Noël
— Elizabeth Touton (@ElizabethTouton) September 10, 2020
Another posted a photo a past Christmas tree in front of the Cathedral and asked: “Why kill our traditions?”
