Throughout Europe, an increasing number of municipal authorities, educational institutions, and publicly funded organizations are encountering criticism for altering their Christmas presentations, as administrators advocate for what they call more “inclusive” methods of celebrating the festive period.
In Belgium, a dispute emerged this month when Brussels revealed a contemporary reinterpretation of a in the city’s Grand Place. The artwork features figures without faces and was presented as a modern, inclusive creative piece. According to the Catholic, the installation has subsequently been defaced and harshly condemned by both local officials and citizens.
The installation also prompted swift online responses. A Belgian national soccer team player widespread reaction on X after posting, “We’ve hit rock bottom… and we keep digging,” a message that was shared thousands of times.
Brussels Mayor Philippe Close, a Socialist Party member, defended the decision at a Friday press conference, claiming the city sought to find balance during the holiday season. “In this , we need to tone it down,” Close stated, adding that while Brussels decided to keep a nativity display, other cities have removed theirs completely.
“The old Nativity scene had been used for 25 years and had many defects,” Close said. “It was time for a new direction. We are very happy with Victoria-Maria’s creation, and we want to ensure the artist is not personally attacked.”
The Brussels controversy reflects a wider trend emerging across Europe as institutions reconsider traditional Christmas symbols and language.
In the , a publicly funded museum sparked outrage after publishing a blog suggesting Father Christmas should be “decolonized,” according to . The blog post, originally published two years ago, was written by Simone LaCorbinière, the museum’s Joint Head of Culture Change at Brighton and Hove Museums. She argued that the traditional Santa Claus image was “too white and too male” and criticized the concept of one figure judging children via a “naughty or nice” list.
LaCorbinière urged parents to imagine Santa as a more diverse figure who “celebrates cultural exchange.” “Have Santa learn about different cultures rather than judge them,” she wrote, suggesting stories could show him experiencing various traditions. She also proposed including “,” arguing that “patriarchy and colonialism went hand in hand.”
The comments drew condemnation from politicians. Senior Conservative Party MP Sir Alec Shelbrooke called the initiative misguided, stating: “At a time of goodwill and festive cheer, it seems woke do-gooders would rather everyone was miserable. This is the worst possible use of taxpayer funds.”
Elsewhere in Britain, schools have also faced scrutiny for restricting Christmas-themed clothing or renaming holiday events, according to . Several schools reportedly replaced Christmas sweater days with more generic “winter” or “seasonal” attire to avoid religious references.
Debates have also extended to holiday music. According to The Telegraph, Labour’s controversial Employment Rights Bill, which became law last week, places a legal duty on employers to prevent harassment by third parties related to protected characteristics such as religion. Critics argue the law could affect workplace Christmas music, including songs such as “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” and “Jingle Bells,” all of which have faced renewed criticism in recent years.
In a statement , the head of the U.K.’s Free Speech Union, Lord Young, was quoted as saying, “The Government didn’t listen, insisting we were being alarmist, but a ban on Christmas music and carol singing will be the least of it. Prepare to live in a country in which every hospitality venue is a micromanaged ‘safe space’, overseen by lanyard-wearing banter bouncers. Welcome to Starmer’s Britain.”