Issue of the day No crucifixes at Christmas market

IT is France’s oldest and biggest Christmas market that draws around two million visitors each yuletide, but things will be different this year after a host of items have been banned from sale, including, initially, crucifixes.

Se que se passe?

Well, indeed, what is going on? The world famous Strasbourg Christmas Market has been held around the city’s cathedral since the 1500s, making it one of the oldest Christmas markets in the world. Its official name is “Christkindelsmarik”, which translates to “Market of the Christ Child” and it is immensely popular, with more than two million visitors.

And now…?

Centuries on, it has been branded “woke” after city officials sent stallholders an extensive list of banned items.

Including crucifixes?

They were banned outright initially, with the city’s ruling Green Party accused of staging an “idiotic wokeist” effort to remove Jesus from the picture. Following a backlash, they will now be allowed to go on limited sale, but must be termed “JC crosses”, effectively removing the “Christ” from the “Christmas market”.

Why?

Strasbourg’s deputy mayor, Guillaume Libsig, claimed it is not the name that is the issue, adding, “The priority is to have ones that are dignified and good quality, made in Europe and not arriving in containers from Asia”, although that would not explain the need for them now to not be called crucifixes.

What else is on the list?

Around 350 products in total make the list, compiled by a “special selection committee” of City Hall officials in the town that sits two miles from Germany’s border in the Alsace region.

Other proscribed items include popcorn, donuts, dog toys, umbrellas, caps and ponchos.

Anything else?

One of the forbidden items is champagne, apparently in order to give local sparkling wine a chance to sell, to preserve the market’s regional flavour. But Maxime Toubart, chair of the Interprofessional Committee of Champagne Wines, said this was “petty” regionalism, adding that Alsace sparkling wine is sold in Christmas markets in cities in the Champagne region.

Some cheese dishes -– raclette and tartiflette – have been outlawed for the same reason.

The good news?

Shoppers will still be able to get pizzas and hot dogs and even some Turkish delight because they are made locally.

The reaction?

Many stallholders are furious, having already purchased some of the items to sell that are now banned, and are collectively appealing for tolerance this year. Meanwhile, socialist councillor Anne-pernelle Richardot said it was “idiotic wokeism”, while councillor Alain Fontanel of the Renaissance party, questioned: “Has Jesus Christ become a swearword? Perhaps we should no longer name the man behind Christmas.”