No champagne, popcorn, poncho or raclettes, chocolate donuts, Christmas items for dogs and cats for this new edition of Strasbourg Capitale de Noël. It’s not so much the things banned on the Christmas market that have been shaking up social networks in recent hours, as the so-called “subject to conditions” sales: crucifixes, Christmas snowballs, Christmas grog, Christmas donuts, Italian products … The list of what is authorized, prohibited or subject to sale is long, precise and detailed by category. It was sent in recent days, as reported by the daily les Latest News from Alsace, by the city to merchants, whether they are sedentary or not, and to fairground participants in the long-awaited event.
Already, some of them are worried about this decision considered late. “The orders have been placed for several months, so it will remain on my hands, explains a trader of decorative gadgets who wishes to remain anonymous. Before, we had to tick boxes on what we intended to sell at the time of registration, but not a list after registration. “I don’t really have an opinion on this list,” explains a winemaker specializing in Crémant d’Alsace. But it may be good to have priority given to local and Alsace products. But anyway, I don’t remember seeing champagne on the market. »
“On this list, there is something to eat and drink,” quipped another trader. If you look closely, what is really prohibited is negligible, originalities but which in any case had nothing to do with the Christmas market. On the other hand, I am surprised not to have seen the churros there, which have been banned for a long time, but I think they still are. »
On social networks, there are also concerns, “for a Christian holiday”, that the sale of crucifixes is subject to conditions. “In the name of what traditional authenticity? “, can we read. Another is ironic and proposes: “Let us ban Christmas trees, mulled wine, and the account will be there. »
Priority to authenticity and quality
Contacted by 20 minutes, Guillaume Libsig, deputy mayor of Strasbourg, notably in charge of urban entertainment and the coordination of the Christmas market, regrets “an attempt at media frenzy”. He delays: “There is an ultra-mixed commission which now works collectively all year round, made up of elected officials, fairgrounds, traders, the CCI, craftsmen, representatives of exhibitors, underlines the elected official. . Its work focuses on this notion of authenticity which is the key concept of the Capitale de Noël operation, and it is this commission that drew up this list accordingly. This authenticity goes through quality products. We no longer want the “amusement park, open-air supermarket for tourists” side as it has been criticized in recent years. This is work that was already in progress and we are only adding a chapter. »
Clearly, everything that is “subject to reservations”, the sale is authorized, but members of the commission will meet traders to discuss their products. “We don’t want, for example, poor quality 2-euro Christmas balls where Strasbourg is misspelled and which break with the frost. We want beautiful products so that the event is well perceived. It’s a question of status. A craftsman who makes a beautiful nativity scene, yes, beautiful quality crucifixes, souvenirs linked to the primary identity of Christmas, which is indeed Christianity, yes! But the santons, the crosses made by thousands of copies and delivered by container from China, no”, assures Guillaume Libsig. He adds: “Just like flashing headbands and umbrellas, all these things sold on the street and which bring back to this notion of an open-air supermarket. Authenticity and quality should therefore set the tone for this Strasbourg Christmas.