***Article first published by 'Voice of Europe' on Oct. 29, 2018***

Organisers of the Christmas Market in the Belgian city of Brugge changed its name to Winter Market. The decision was made to not ‘offend other beliefs’, Belgian newspaper HLN reports.

The newspaper says that the Christmas lights on the market will be replaced by neutral winter lights. People and politicians are not amused about the changes.

Pol Van Den Driessche, a member of local opposition party N-VA, calls the decision ‘incomprehensible and unbelievable’.

“So we are not allowed to speak about a Christmas Market, but only of a Winter Market. This is not only a completely insane decision, it also goes against what we are.

Brugge has a wonderful and historic Christmas tradition and if you’re religious or not, this is part of our culture. I don’t want to appease to this sickening form of tolerance,” the politician said.

Some people replying to the article relate the decision to Islam. “Do we still live in Belgium? Our norms and values are eroding, our culture is disappearing and our feasts need other names. And we must respect their Ramadan and Sugar Feast, a man says.

The organiser of Brugge’s Winter Market, Pieter Vanderyse says he said the decision was made to make the market ‘more neutral’ for everybody.

“If we use the word Christmas it will be associated with a religion, but we want to be more neutral. We have no idea where they commotion comes from, this is the second year the name has changed,” Vanderyse says.

Other Belgian cities also changed its Christmas Markets into Winter Markets, Winter Lands or Winter Fun. Examples are Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent and Hasselt.