In Belgium, Brussels is hardly an exception. Ciney named its Christmas market “les Féeries du Parc”, Louvain-la-Neuve opted for “Louvain-la-Neige”, Mons for “Mons, heart in snow“Conversely, Liège and Charleroi have retained the name.”Christmas Village“. Same in Antwerp and Bruges with the “Christmas market“, or in Namur and Durbuy with, in all simplicity, “Christmas market“.
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“There is always a Christmas nativity scene”
Contacted, the office of Brussels mayor Philippe Close (PS) assures us that “ there is no desire to erase the name of Christmas.” From the first page of the Plaisirs d’Hiver website, there is, it is true, mention of the “Christmas market”. The same goes for Louvain-la-Neuve, Ciney and Mons.
But why not keep the name in the title? “In fact, we gave the name ‘Plaisirs d’Hiver’ to set us apart from other Christmas markets in Belgium and Europe. And, obviously, it worked given that we are one of the most famous Christmas markets in the world.” comments the spokesperson for the socialist mayor. “But there is no intention behind this name to abandon our traditions: there is always a Christmas nativity scene, a Christmas tree and, this year, a choir did the inauguration. It’s still a Christmas market but with another name.”
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The tradition of the winter market, with its mulled wine and tartiflette chalets, is, for the record, not that old in our capital. In Brussels, the first real Christmas market took place in 2001, although chalets were already set up in the 1990s in the Sablon and on the Grand-Place.
From 2001, we already find, and this is attested in various archives, the appellation “Winter Fun“.
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In Mons also, the name “Mons Cœur en Neige” dates back to the creation of the event, two decades ago. “We have not changed the name. Our Christmas market is a Christmas market with its tree, its artisan chalets and its nativity scene”, justifies the office of Mons mayor Nicolas Martin (PS). “At the same time and more generally, we have a concept called ‘Mons, coeur en neige’ and which includes not only the Christmas market but also the magical illuminations and decorations, the parade of lights, the abseiling of Santa Claus at the Belfry, New Year’s Eve on the Grand-Place, multiple events and activities.”
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Same story in Ciney, where the mayor claims to have no desire to “erase” Noël. “On the contrary, I am for keeping the symbols.” According to Frédéric Deville, the name “The Fairies of the Park“was given for”stand out” and in relation to the location (Saint-Roch park). “But we fully embrace the Christmas side. We also use it in the subtitle.”
The “Bel Hiver” of Saint-Denis in the viewfinder
In France, the debate is much more lively than in Belgium. After Nantes, it is now Saint-Denis, which is in the viewfinder with its “Bel Hiver” appellation. “Saint-Denis where we no longer wish ‘Merry Christmas’ or even ‘Happy Holidays’ but ‘Bel Winter’. Appalling“, Julien Aubert, vice-president of the French party Les Républicains, was indignant at the beginning of December.
The debate took place at CNews and at Touche Pas à Mon Poste, and sparked a number of articles from across Quiévrain. Let us specify that, for the specific case of Saint-Denis, the appellation “Beautiful Winter” is intended to be a reference to summer festivities.Beautiful Summer“and that the mention”Noël” remains very present in the communication of this city of Île-de-France.
For its part, the Secular Action Center of Belgium says it sees no problem in the mention “Noël“for these events.”Like the cross on Saint Nicholas’ miter and the fir tree, this is folklore and popular tradition. It’s desecularized. For us, the essential fight is not there“, comments Hervé Parmentier, secretary general of the organization.
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