The Great Swiss Christmas Decoration Controversy

For the second year in a row, great controversy has befallen the normally tranquil city of Zurich. The offense is so bold and egregious that it threatens to dampen the holiday spirits of anyone who approaches. I am speaking, of course, of the Bahnhofstrasse Christmas lights.

Bahnhofstrasse, for those unfamiliar with downtown Zurich, is the main shopping street through the center of the city, leading from the main train station (or Bahnhof) all the way to the lake. It is lined with fancy shops and is the heart of holiday activities, such as… shopping.

But starting last year, the otherwise jovial Swiss shoppers have been forced to endure unthinkable horror dare they traverse Bahnhofstrasse in the weeks leading up to Christmas: unattractive Christmas lights. More than a handful of concerned citizens have gone so far as to pen angry letters to the editors of local newspapers, demanding that the stark eyesores be replaced with something more festive. Even public figures are calling the lights ugly.

Personally, I don’t think they’re ugly. I just think they’re not in the least bit… Christmassy. Which is odd in a city that otherwise does Christmas so well. So what do you think? Anyone want to fess up to having written one of those entertaining letters to the editor?

[photo courtesy of GenevaGal]

4 thoughts on “The Great Swiss Christmas Decoration Controversy”

  2. The problem is that the lights come off as expensive, high-tech art. It’s no accident that they were funded by the ritzy shops on Bahnhofstrasse hoping to attract more shoppers. All of this is counter to the homey ideal of Christmas that people look forward to.

    You have to look back and laugh at the way this “large urban public art installation” was first
    “>hyped and called the “World’s Largest Timepiece.”     Here’s to 23 more years of “visually stimulating, sustainable lighting scheme” / Christmas lights!

  3. Im ashamed of my country. Im a young (modern) swiss guy, but this christmas decoration is really horrible. It has nothing to do with christmas. You’re americans are way better in celebrating christmas… God bless, Andre

  4. I was in Zurich on the evening of Thursday 30th November and saw the new lights. They might not be everyone’s idea of perfect Christmas lights but as far as I am concerned they are wonderful. The view down Bahnhoffstrasse reminded me of the aurora borealis.

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