“On the Strasbourg Christmas market, the “JC cross” (sic), reduced to the rank of bottle openers or ashtrays, are authorized “subject to change”? Subject to what? Without a crucifix at the end, Christmas disappears. “, denounces the journalist Gabrielle Cluzel. A misunderstanding shared by many Internet users.
But where does such a list come from? It was a commission from “Strasbourg Capitale de Noël” that decided to set it up. “For several years, the feedback on this event has been clear: ‘open-air amusement park’, ‘supermarket for tourists’ and so on”, defend thus Guillaume Libsig, deputy in charge of urban activities, on his Facebook account. “In response, we have provided the joint selection commission with new missions and it is made up of elected officials, fairground workers, craftsmen, traders, the CCI, the CMA… to be able to respond to them. The objective: not to sell “objects at a discount that harm the quality of Capitale de Noël. This is why on the objects the notion of “subject to reservation” is invoked”, he specifies. The various objects subject to this mention “subject to” thus have the right to be sold “but the commission will discuss with the exhibitors during the meeting to ensure the origin and the quality of the product”. In other words, continues Guillaume Libsig, “all items can be sold during Capitale de Noël provided they are of acceptable quality. This includes objects that carry the religious identity of Christmas”. In order to clarify the situation, a press conference is organized this Thursday, October 13 to present the work of the commission in more detail.
And to “reassure” – in his own way – Catholics worried about the fate of the crucifixes: “Strasbourg, capital of Christmas, is an event organized by a republican and secular institution but which draws its magic from its historical and traditional roots. Yes Christmas is a religious holiday and obviously the most important religious holiday in Alsace. The respect we have for this religious identity is affirmed by the support granted to the various projects carried out by the cults during this period of strong spirituality. ” If the desire to preserve a certain know-how during the Strasbourg Christmas market by favoring regional products is perfectly understood, the publication of an arbitrary list pointing pell-mell to ashtrays, bottle openers and crucifixes as authorized objects “under reservations” can legitimately scald. And it is – too – quickly forgotten that the real name of the Strasbourg Christmas market is “Christkindelsmärik” which literally means “market of the child Jesus” in the Alsatian dialect.
