Strasbourg Christmas fair sparks controversy with ban on champagne and raclette cheese
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The environmental mayor of Strasbourg has published a list of products and items banned from the city’s Christmas market. But his quest for “authenticity” provoked a strong reaction.
The controversy dates back to early October when some 300 merchants received an email from Strasbourg Eurometropolis entitled “Authorized products, Strasbourg Capital of Christmas 2022”.
The list of over 350 commodities and items has since been updated by the Strasbourg Christmas market “selection advisory committee”.
Prohibited items include champagne, raclette, hot dogs, and popcorn, among others.
Locally produced sparkling wine will replace champagne while local munster will replace raclette.
Crucifixes bearing a representation of Jesus Christ are accepted “subject to conditions”.
‘Eco-responsibility, origin of products’
“The promotion of know-how and authenticity is essential”, explains Guillaume Libsig, deputy mayor in charge of associations and member of the product selection committee.
He thinks the listing gives the event “credibility.”
The “Capital of Christmas” must remain in tune with the times, respond to society’s interest in “eco-responsibility, the origin of products, well-being or identity”, specifies Libsig.
He refuses to see the city as “an open-air supermarket […] with items sold elsewhere the rest of the year.”
But the opposition councilor Alain Fontanel (LREM) maintains that by wanting to control Christmas the town hall has revealed “its prejudices and its ideology”.
Socialist Anne-Pernelle Richardot called the list “stupid wokism”.
Pierre Jakubowicz, from the conservative right, is surprised that the list has “arrived so late”, a month and a half before the opening when most traders order their stock at the start of the year.
Champagne and Christian crosses
Libsig said he wanted to spark a debate.
For products, such as Christian crosses, authorized “subject to change”, the organizers will speak with traders to find out the origin of the products.
The aim is to guarantee quality products, made in Europe, and not imported from Asia, underlined Libsig.
In an open letter addressed to the mayor of Strasbourg Jeanne Barseghian, the Republican councilor Jean-Philippe Vetter denounced a desire “to possibly ban the symbol of the Christian faith from the Christmas market”.
“I like Crémant d’Alsace and champagne, wines of joy and celebration,” tweeted Jean Rottner, president of the Grand Est region, calling the Strasbourg list a “clown”.
I love Crémant d’Alsace and champagne, wines of joy and celebration
What will the mayor of Strasbourg do with the prosecco, the Clairette de Die, the Crémant de Bourgogne?
This form of hunting for a so-called virtue is unbearable
Clownsque 🤡https://t.co/6edHec78pc— Jean ROTTNER (@JeanROTTNER) October 11, 2022
“The list was drawn up democratically, every vote counts,” said Eric Bodein, a fairground food vendor and one of 15 members of the selection committee.
“The goal is to have higher quality items and some sorting had to be done,” he said.
On Tuesday, the town hall of Strasbourg stressed that the list of prohibited products was a “working document” and would be refined in early 2023.
The Strasbourg market – the largest and most famous Christmas market in France – opens this year on November 25.