Lights moved from the Borne: Palma shifts the Christmas switch-on — a good idea, but at what cost?

Why the Christmas lights won't be switched on at the Borne this year

This year the big switch-on of the Christmas lights in Palma will no longer take place on the Paseo del Borne, but on Plaza España. The justification is solid: safety. Too many people, too little space, and emergency access routes that would not be optimal in a critical situation. That sounds reasonable in a city where every inch at night still attracts people — from the dozen voices that flow through the Borne to the quiet clatter of a bus schedule at the plaza.

The central question: protection or spectacle — and who pays for it?

The city cites more space and better access as arguments. That is the official line — and it is important. But the decision raises a bigger question: Is the relocation purely a safety measure or also a signal of budgetary priorities? The city is investing around €1.9 million in the lights and decorations, slightly more than last year. For this amount LEDs, projections, artificial snow and a staging by the Trui Theatre will be set up. It sounds nice, but it also smells like public money that might be urgently needed elsewhere: park benches, playgrounds, street lighting in quieter neighborhoods.

What has been underdiscussed in the public debate

First: energy and the environment. LEDs are more efficient than old decorative lamps, but projections and installations still require power — and artificial snow is another point of consumption. Is there an accounting of how much additional consumption will result and whether CO2 offsetting or night shutdowns are planned? Second: cost sharing. The lights are supposed to hang in around 200 streets. Will households in residential neighborhoods be charged a share, or will the city cover it centrally? Third: citizen participation. Who decided which neighborhoods will get which motifs? The view from Passeig del Born changes not only spatially but socially: tourist mile versus neighborhood.

The event: family-friendly, but choreographed

The start is scheduled for 7 pm on Saturday, with an approximately 35-minute production by the Trui Theatre: music, light and a short stage piece 'Dance of the Stars', followed by a countdown. Good: the time is family-friendly; many parents can still come with small children. Good also: the symbolic switch will be triggered this time by residents of a social institution — an inclusive detail that deserves applause.

Between crowd control and decentralization: opportunities instead of crushes

Moving to Plaza España can be more than just fleeing the crush. If the city uses the opportunity to rethink the celebration in a more decentralized way, real gains can be made: rotating switch-on events in the districts, small local switch-ons on different evenings, clear time windows to avoid large crowds. That way the magic remains without tens of thousands gathering at a single point and the police taking over the atmosphere. A small parade of light switch-ons through the neighborhoods, accompanied by local choirs or school ensembles, would spread the money and the mood more widely.

Concrete proposals and solutions

1. Budget transparency: an open breakdown of what the €1.9 million is spent on — technology, personnel, security, cleaning. Citizen forums or an online dashboard could build trust.
2. Make the energy balance visible: meters on central installations, a CO2 balance and a promise to invest part of the costs in energy savings or compensation projects.
3. Decentralized switch-on dates: instead of a single big event, several smaller events in the 200 streets — this reduces crowding and strengthens neighborhoods.
4. More sustainable effects: less artificial snow, more local artists, Christmas markets with Mallorcan products and a portion of the budget for neighborhood measures.

A small personal glance

On Saturday I will stand at the edge of Plaza España — with a scarf, maybe a thermos of coffee, and the curiosity of a resident who has followed the noise at the Borne for years with a frown. The lights will look beautiful, the audience will clap, children will reach for artificial snow. And somewhere between the countdown and the draught the real question will remain: are we using the lights to make Palma more beautiful — or mainly to show how big our show is?

Conclusion

The move is factually justified and offers opportunities. But it also brings political and ecological questions that have so far been too little discussed. If the city now shows the courage for decentralization, transparency and sustainable compromises, a safety decision could become an opportunity for a more inclusive and wiser Christmas season in Palma.