<Abstract Christmas tree sparks protests in Brussels>

Some Brussels residents have renamed the shining installation to 'pharmacy'.

Brussels - Thousands of people have signed a petition against an abstract light installation that has replaced the traditional Christmas tree in the center of Brussels, Belgium. The online petition has already gathered over 11,000 signatures, and a Facebook page has also been launched that mocks this novelty.
     Critics accuse officials of choosing this installation out of fear of offending non-Christian residents, particularly Muslims. However, the mayor's office claims that the unconventional tree aligns with this year's theme, which was "light".
     Usually, the main square in Brussels is adorned with a 20-meter tall tree cut from the forests of the Ardennes. This year, it has been replaced by a 25-meter tall structure, although small Christmas trees still decorate the square.
     Tourism advisor Philippe Close from the Brussels mayor’s office stated that the intent was to "show the avant-garde character" of Brussels by mixing modern and traditional elements to create something new and different.
     Brussels hosts some of the most popular winter markets in Europe, and many are concerned that the current structure does not harmonize with the 17th-century buildings that surround it. Some have even renamed the shining installation "pharmacy" because the glowing cubes that make it up remind them of the cross symbol that hangs in front of many pharmacies around the world.
     "We think this 'tree' was built for cultural reasons," said Brussels resident Erik Maxwell to the BBC. "The tree is for Christmas and for Christians, but currently, we have a lot of Muslims here in Brussels. So to avoid discussions, they simply replaced the tree with a cluster of cubes! I'm more traditional; I prefer a common tree. It's better for Belgians," he added.
     A recent estimate by the Belgian newspaper Le Soir stated that in 2010, Muslims made up as much as 22 percent of the population of Brussels and surrounding areas.