Rennes has only just gained its shady sky. Put in place in July to try to cool the very mineral rue Le Bastard, this ceiling of plastic ribbons has only just had time to be put away and will soon be replaced. By who ? But by Christmas garlands of course! In the Breton capital, as in Versailles or Biarritz for example, the installation of Christmas decorations began a week ago, under the amazed gaze of passers-by. “Every year it’s the same, every time we start hanging, people come to see us to be surprised,” admits the head of the team of four Bouygues Énergie agents responsible for this mission. The difference with other years is that it was not 29 degrees on October 10.
Sitting on a bench on Place de la République, this retiree is surprised. “Ah yes, already! Next year they only have to start in July! “. We then explain to him that it takes two months to install everything. ” You are right. I didn’t realize it was already October.” And that is the problem. If there are so many reactions to Christmas decorations this year, it is above all because the weather is getting out of hand, with temperatures well above the summer averages observed throughout France. According to doctor in agroclimatology Serge Zaka “our autumn 2023 is currently warmer that the summers of the past century “.
If the climate has gone haywire due to human activity, the timetable for hanging Christmas decorations has not changed. “We always start at the beginning of October to be ready. Everything must sparkle on December 3,” assures the head of Bouygues Énergie. Like every year, its teams and those of the city agents must also renew part of the decorations, which requires drilling, connecting, casing, screwing. In the Breton capital, there are 170 garlands, or 3.5 km of lighting, plus decorations, light curtains and numerous fir trees and trees that need to be decorated. Add to this the tests to be carried out during November and you will understand why it was time to get started, even if the magic of Christmas is still far away. If it still exists.