Aart Heering
RIPOSA IN PACE: Rest In Peace. The grieving Romans lament the untimely passing of Spelacchio. For once, the front page of the Roman newspaper takes the form of a real obituary, illustrated with a dead spruce twig. It is yet another ironic contribution to the drama that preoccupies the Romans more than anything else in the dark days before Christmas: the suffering and death of Spelacchio.
O pine treeO pine tree, how beautiful are Thy branchesthe song goes. But that can hardly be said of the twenty meter high Christmas tree that adorns the Roman Piazza Venezia these days (or rather: should have adorned it). Little is left of the dark green coniferous splendor that once formed the pride of the Alpine forest giant.
Needle Loss
Immediately after arriving in Rome, the tree began to lose its needles, so that it now offers a view of almost bare, sadly drooping branches in which between 800 Christmas baubles and 4.000 lights are barely visible. The impressively intended tree especially arouses pity, so that the voice of the people gives him the pathetic nickname Spelacchio (Baldhead) has given. In addition, a public debate has erupted in which, as so often in Italy, everyone has their say and all blame each other.
And it could have been so beautiful. Last year on Piazza Venezia a smaller and moderately decorated tree. This is part of the austerity policy of the Five Star Movement, which currently rules the capital. Many citizens thought that was a bit sober, so that the tree soon got the nickname Tristino (Soul Feet) got.
An expensive dead tree
To avoid repetition, a hefty tree was chosen this time, which could be delivered free of charge from the Val di Fiemme in the Trentiner Dolomites. For the transport, on the other hand, 48.000 euros was charged, a hefty amount that is now also subject to considerable bickering, given the dramatic result. The Italian Consumers' Association has already filed a complaint and the Central Court of Auditors will look into it.
How could this have happened? Rome wonders, as the images of Spelacchio - by means of The Guardian compared to a toilet brush – ruthlessly going around the world and the city council has officially declared the tree dead. A leading botanist declares that the wrong kind of tree was chosen – a 'red spruce' instead of the more resistant 'white spruce' – but according to no less prominent colleagues that is nonsense.
Summer drought?
Another suggests that due to this year's summer drought, the tree contains too little moisture, but that should apply to all Christmas trees. It is reported from the Val di Fiemme that the tree was sent without roots, but normally it should have lasted at least one and a half to two months. He would therefore have been wrongly transported and rigged.
Journalists have investigated the company that carried out these tasks on behalf of the municipality: it also appears to be responsible for the maintenance of three public gardens, in which the greenery would not be much better than Spelacchio. And politicians are only too happy to take the opportunity to explain the Christmas tree drama as yet another proof of the incompetence of the Five Star Board, which so far has indeed not made a great impression.
Vatican City steals the show
But of course there is also something positive to report. The twitter account @spelacchio already has about 5.000 followers. And if you do want to see a green Christmas tree in Rome, you should walk to St. Peter's Square, where a voluminous super spruce from the good Catholic Poland, steals the show.
Into a beautiful tree Vatican:
Photos: Aart Heering
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