Christmas tree excitement in front of the city hall of the federal capital! A 115-year-old copy from South Tyrol had to be used for the decoration. The Italians are angry about the murder of spruce trees: “Cut down your own trees!” The matter is becoming a real state affair.
Nice or bad? Every year the Republic discusses the country’s most famous Christmas tree. But this year all of Italy is rumbling: “Mamma mia, how can you kill such a beautiful tree and send it to Vienna, where it will then be burned?” rages the country’s largest environmental protection organization. The background: The elegant spruce is proudly 115 years old, stood there innocently in the Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park and survived two world wars.
Until the chainsaw rattled relentlessly: “It is unacceptable that the country of South Tyrol is so brutally putting an end to a natural life and a symbol of stability,” complains Argante Brancalion, president of the environmental association. Many Italians agree with him: let the Austrians cut down their own tree!
Gift from the “tenth federal state”
But you should know: the Christmas trees in front of the town hall square have come from a different state every year since 1959. South Tyrol has also been involved since 1989 and now it was the turn of the “tenth federal state”, as the city of Vienna happily announced. South Tyrolean Governor Arno Kompatscher cheers: “The tree is also a sign of our connection with Vienna and Austria.”
But the Italians don’t see it that way: the transport cost 44,000 euros, especially via the Brenner, which our neighbors do not speak well of anyway. The truck driving bans imposed by Tyrol angered Transport Minister Matteo Salvini and he is suing the EU Court of Justice.
And here it goes: strictly speaking, the tree is also Austrian. When it sprang up in 1908, South Tyrol was still with us; only in 1919 did the victorious powers annex it to Italy. A real state affair…
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
