Romans Decry ‘Grungy,’ a Threadbare Christmas Tree, as Sign of Decline

Romans Decry ‘Grungy,’ a Threadbare Christmas Tree, as Sign of Decline
A picture shows the controversial Christmas tree at Piazza Venezia in Rome, on Dec. 19, 2017. ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP/Getty Images
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“Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree. How grungy are your branches!” That could be Rome’s version of the classic Christmas carol, which speaks instead of branches that are lovely and steadfast.

Romans are up in arms over the tree that has been dubbed “Spelacchio”, roughly translated as grungy, which stands in the capital’s central Piazza Venezia and has become a symbol of what many see as the decay of the eternal city.