Adderley Street festive lights are switched on in Cape Town, a long-standing city tradition now at the centre of controversy over the removal of Christian symbols. The City of Cape Town has denied claims that Christian symbols were removed from this year’s Adderley Street festive lights, saying no decision was taken to exclude religious imagery and that elements such as angels, Mary and baby Jesus are included in the current display. The City’s response follows public backlash from political parties and religious leaders over what they allege is the removal of Christian symbolism from the iconic festive lights, with renewed calls for transparency and accountability within the municipality.
In response to media enquiries, the City said the festive lights have, for more than five decades, been a “beloved annual tradition”, with thousands of people gathering to witness Adderley Street transformed into a display of lights and decorations. “Each year, the Festive Lights are themed to incorporate different elements and icons that represent Cape Town and its iconic landscapes and distinguishing features (mountain, penguins, Klopse, wings, bells etc),” the City said. The City added that the theme in recent years has emphasised “hope”, including this year’s theme, “United in Hope”, with annual adjustments made to refresh the display. “No decision has been taken to remove any Christian or religious symbolism from the Festive Lights; in fact, angels, Mary and baby Jesus feature as part of the different elements this year, noting also that the City of Cape Town is a cosmopolitan city made up of people from different religions and backgrounds,” the statement said.
Read Full Article on Cape Argus
