Which post is actually the most thankless at the city of Frankfurt? Well, next to that of the city treasurer, who tends the money bin? Again and again in autumn there is, in my opinion, only one who has to wake up in a bad mood for days on end: the official Christmas tree picker Thomas Feda, who is also the managing director of Tourismus und Congress GmbH.
No sooner is the tree up than there's a smack on the head - for Mr. Feda, so to speak, <link https: www.frankfurt-tipp.de ffm-aktuell s ugc frankfurter-weihnachtsmarkt-der-baum-auf-dem-roemerberg-angekommen.html _blank>Because almost everyone traditionally grumbles.
Why do I have to have an opinion about the tree at all?
Some may wonder why they should have an opinion about the tree at all. It only stands on the Römerberg for a few weeks a year, you might think. But stop, I would like to call out to you. What about the masses of Asian tourists who take the image of a lousy plant back to their own countries? And show it off there? In a tree-rich country like ours, can't anything better be found? Someone might think so, and that's why Mr. Freda personally drove to the Sauerland. Yes, that was a nice treat, wasn't it? That the red spruce comes from the Sauerland. The information that the choice fell on a specimen that should have been felled next year anyway put a damper on my mood. So Frankfurt has a little tree that was waiting for the mercy killing??
Frankfurt has greatness - <link https: www.frankfurt-tipp.de insidefrankfurt s shopping der-baum-ist-los.html _blank>and again spruce!
So the spruce is uglier than all other Christmas trees in Hesse, but therefore probably by far the biggest tree in the state. Not everyone manages that, either. The Nordmann fir in Kassel is 18 metres tall. (Imagine: a Nordmann fir!!! It makes my eyes moist;-)) Wiesbaden is adorned with a Douglas fir, but it can only boast 25 meters. Well, if the category "beautiful" is already occupied, Frankfurt reaches for "high up". It goes well with the skyscrapers. And in front of such an impressive historical backdrop as the Römer, it shouldn't come across as puny, i.e. too short! So far, so reasonable.
But this week, when I convinced myself of the proper shaggy state of the 33-metre-high spruce, while the light chain attachment was in full swing, I couldn't suppress a sigh at the sight of the hanging and tattered branches at the Römer: I had been quite excited. From the Sauerland! 124 years old! (Respect, old house.) And then this - another ugly one, it flashed through my mind. *hach*
If I imagine that twigs, greenery or even trees symbolize life force, then a crunchy plant on the Römer just doesn't leave me cold. And be it ever so long. It remains #gackelig :-)
Yesterday I met with acquaintances to discuss the tree location: Faster and smoother than the Jamaica round in Berlin, we agreed to admire the beauty of nature at this year's tree. At the latest at the <link _blank>Christmas market. When the lights shine in the dark, we'll order a second Feuerzangebowle in honor of the ol' spruce, which gets to be a tree in Frankfurt one last time.
But when is the Christmas tree beautiful anyway?