Lack of Funds, Lights and Decoration Makes Christmas 'Disappear' from the Streets of São Paulo

12/22/2016 - 18h28

Where is Christmas? With little decoration, money and excitement to go shopping, the celebration virtually disappeared from the streets of São Paulo.

Regions that are traditionally decorated with many lights at this time of year, such as Oscar Freire, Jardins (in the west zone) and Viaduto do Chá (in the city center), received no Christmas decoration.

After yet another year of economic crisis, the City Hall and businessmen decided to cut expenses with the preparations for Christmas.

In 2016, unlike previous years, the city did not pay for lights to decorate the streets. In 2015, according to data of the Fernando Haddad (PT) administration, there were 600,000 lights in nearly 2,000 trees in the city, as well as other events carried out in partnerships with sponsors.

Of last year's attractions, however, only the Christmas tree across from the Ibirapuera park and the Christmas wagons – both sponsored by Coca-Cola – were repeated.

SPTuris, the municipal tourism company, says that Coca-Cola was the only company to answer the public call for Christmas decoration this year.

Even the City Hall building, in Viaduto do Chá, seems to lack in Christmas spirit. The building traditionally receives much decoration - this year, however, it did not receive any.

João Bico, the director of Tecnolamp, a company that used to supply Christmas lights services to the City Hall, says that 2016 will the first year without street decoration in São Paulo in more than ten years.

"The City Hall eliminated Christmas," says Bico.

Bico also says that the City Hall's decision not to pay for the lights led to a domino effect.

"In previous years, as soon as the lights on the trees were set up, we received a lot of phone calls from buildings and companies to do the same for them."

He says that this year the demand from blocks of flats and offices reduced sharply.

NO CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

The lack of excitement about Christmas is also seen on Oscar Freire, a traditional shopping street in the neighborhood of Jardins.

In previous years the street displayed lines of light at least one kilometer long; now only the front of some stores are decorated – the shops also decided to decorate three trees.

The association of store owners says that the "blackout" is due to the lack of lights set up by the City Hall and other sponsors.

Emilio Alfieri, an economist at the Commercial Association of São Paulo, says that the shop owners' decision to give up Christmas decoration was pragmatic.

"In good years, the decoration stimulates consumption, it helps businesses. This year, however, all customers want is discounts," says Alfieri.

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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