A Christmas tree and market stalls are already up in Svätopluk Square in the heart of Nitra. The tree will be lit for the first time during the opening of the Christmas market on December 1, 2024 at 18:00. (source: TASR- Henrich Mišovič)
A poster promoting Christmas events in the city of Nitra has caused a stir among some local councillors. The design, they argue, is of a quality that would be expected from a primary school student, and they claim it shows a disregard for the history and iconography of the city.
In a letter to the mayor, a group of councillors expressed their outrage, arguing that the poster is also an insult to Christianity. “Above all, it is an affront to Christianity, whose cradle in Slovakia is precisely the city of Nitra,” the councillors wrote, according to the My Nitra website.
The poster features four statues from Nitra: Corgoň, a mythical strongman, is depicted holding a Christmas bauble on his shoulders; Pribina, the 9th-century Slavic prince of Nitra, is shown holding a candle instead of a sword; Saints Cyril and Methodius, the Christian missionaries who worked in the region during the 9th century, are portrayed bringing gifts; and children from the “Protest Against War” monument, located in the Sihoť Park, are shown playing under a Christmas bell.
The councillors believe that the blending of modern Christmas symbols with depictions of historical figures reflects a lack of respect and knowledge of history on the part of the poster’s creators.
This Christmas poster promoting December events in Nitra has drawn criticism from some local councillors. (source: Nitra)
Politically motivated criticism
In their letter, 16 of the 31 councillors have called for the immediate halting of the poster’s distribution and use. However, city officials have rejected this request.
“We fully stand behind the work of our colleagues and see no reason to alter the design or halt production,” said Henrich Varga, media advisor to the mayor, Marek Hattas, in a statement to My Nitra.
Several councillors approached by the local news website have linked the criticism of the poster to ongoing tensions within the city council. One of the councillors texted My Nitra that he was not offended by the candle in Pribina’s hands, adding that a local brand of salami is also named after the prince.
The My Nitra website also reached out to the Diocese of Nitra, one of the eight dioceses in Slovakia, to ask for their views on the poster and the councillors’ initiative.
“We will not comment on this matter,” replied Tibor Ujlacký, spokesperson for the diocese.
