Paris has already been adorned with Christmas decorations, yet the holiday’s name remains conspicuously absent from public signs and greetings. While French cities outside the capital openly celebrate the season, Parisians have deliberately avoided using the word “Christmas” in their public spaces.
Iconic streets such as Montorgueil are draped in evergreen branches and sparkling garlands, with pastry shops and fashion boutiques sporting festive trees, gift boxes, and soft toys in red and white. But instead of signs reading “Merry Christmas,” local businesses display messages like “Happy holidays” that omit the specific holiday name.
This trend sparked controversy when Fulk Shombar de Love, a Republican candidate for mayor of Nantes, criticized the absence of “Christmas” on public displays. He claimed the term has become a “dirty word” in his city, signaling growing tensions over how the holiday is referred to.
However, claims that Nantes City Hall banned the word have been debunked. After the controversy, Joanne Rolland’s team issued a rebuttal calling such statements “very far from reality lies.” A representative of the mayor’s office stated: “Nantes celebrates Christmas widely. It is a holiday for everyone — children and adults alike — and takes place everywhere in the city.”
The issue echoes an earlier EU directive involving Helena Dalli, the European Commissioner for Equality. Four years ago, she issued guidelines urging officials to replace references to “Christmas” with more inclusive greetings. The proposal faced backlash, with critics arguing it aimed not at combating discrimination but at erasing Christian traditions. Dalli later withdrew the document after revisions.
In contrast, cities like Strasbourg and Marseille have embraced the holiday without controversy. Local authorities highlight Christmas markets as integral to their cultural heritage, while Strasbourg’s deputy mayor for the “Christmas Capital” initiative confirmed no disputes exist over the term.
The debate extends beyond France. On December 10, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his efforts to protect the word “Christmas” from radical groups seeking its removal. He recalled his pledge in 2015 to restore the holiday after left-wing activists sought to erase it from public discourse.
