Bordeaux: Mayor cancels Christmas trees in city
The ecologically-minded mayor will not decorate Bordeaux with 鈥渄ead trees鈥� this festive season, he has said, claiming they go against his 鈥渃oncept of re-vegetation鈥� 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: 鈥淲e 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.鈥�
Mr Hurmic is a member of the green Europe Ecologie Les Verts (EELV) party. When elected mayor, he declared a 鈥渟tate of climate emergency鈥� in the city, and announced plans to 鈥渞e-vegetate鈥� 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鈥檚 largest Christmas tree usually stands.
The mayor also plans to implement a 鈥渃harter of rights for trees鈥� that will specify rules for their protection.
Christmas tree ban met with opposition
Mr Hurmic鈥檚 announcement has been met with opposition online, with one Twitter-user writing: 鈥淭he Christmas tree brings children joy, and no 鈥渓ive show鈥� will be as good at capturing the magic of Christmas.鈥�
Another posted a photo a past Christmas tree in front of the Cathedral and asked: 鈥淲hy kill our traditions?鈥�
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