Controversy in Geneva –
Turmoil around the Christmas market in Chêne-Bourg
The PLR criticizes the disappearance of the name “Christmas” in the traditional municipal event. The Administrative Council explains itself.
Published today at 4:50 p.m.
The end-of-year market will take place on Tuesday, November 26 on Place de la Gare, during the weekly Chêne-Bourg market.
Lucien FORTUNATI
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- The End of Year Market replaces the Christmas market in Chêne-Bourg.
- The PLR considers this decision to be an attack on local traditions.
- Philippe Moser, the mayor of Chêne-Bourg, explains.
The decision of the Administrative Council of Chêne-Bourg to transform the Christmas market into an end-of-year market boosts the PLR. Two elected officials protested, in a press release, and spoke of “an attack on our traditions and our culture”.
And to continue: “By obscuring the Christmas celebration, it is much more than a name that we erase, it is an entire heritage, a history and the values of sharing and conviviality.”
Preserving traditions
The PLR believes that the Administrative Council “turns its back on the values which are dear to us and which are part of our identity”. The party urges the authorities to preserve these traditions “which make our city vibrate and which bring joy and magic to the hearts of everyone, young and old”.
When questioned, Philippe Moser, the mayor, responsible for social cohesion in Chêne-Bourg, calms things down. “Historically, several years ago, the Christmas market was held on the Place du Gothard, jointly with Chêne-Bougeries. Over time, the traders present achieved less and less turnover and the market experienced a small death. No one wanted to participate anymore, due to lack of attraction.”
The Administrative Council has therefore decided to rely on its weekly market, which is currently held every Tuesday on the Place de la Gare, and to combine it with the Christmas market on November 26. “Since 2022, two festivals have been organized during this market, those in spring and autumn,” explains Philippe Moser. In 2023, we have decided to transform this last celebration into an end-of-year market.”
Christmas items
The municipal authorities therefore combined the two markets, weekly and one-off, so that the traditional sellers of Christmas items could be present.
“This spring, discussions have already taken place between the mayor of Chêne-Bougeries and myself, in order to re-establish the Christmas market as before on the Place du Gothard in 2025,” indicates Philippe Moser. But I don’t want to rush things, nothing can be done before the next municipal elections in the spring, which could reshuffle the political cards.”
Is the reference to Christmas in traditional end-of-year markets in danger? Not if we stick to the list in the City of Geneva. Of the five events, the reference to Christmas appears each time: Christmas at the quay, Fusterie Christmas market, participatory Christmas market and tree at Petit-Saconnex and finally Mont-Blanc Christmas market at the station Cornavin.
Same observation in the municipalities, from Grand-Saconnex to Lancy, via Confignon, Aire-la-Ville, Plan-les-Ouates and Carouge, none of them abandons the reference to the biblical festival.
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Judith Monfrini is a journalist in the local section. With a legal background, she obtained her diploma from the Journalism and Media Training Center (CFJM) in 2015. She worked for more than ten years for the Médiaone group. (Radio Lac, One fm)More info
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