Bremerhaven Christmas market: Lumumba under fire – name now deleted!

Bremerhaven Christmas market: Lumumba under fire – name now deleted!

The festive mood at the Bremerhaven Christmas market is overshadowed by a current debate about a traditional drink, drinking chocolate with alcohol. Erlebnis Bremerhaven GmbH, which is responsible for running the Christmas market, has recommended that the popular name “Lumumba” no longer be used. This recommendation reflects a growing awareness of social sensitivities that can also be felt elsewhere in Germany.

Critics see the name “Lumumba” for the drink as problematic. It is argued that it may reproduce racist stereotypes associated with Congolese freedom fighter Patrice Lumumba. Lumumba was Congo's first democratically elected head of government and was assassinated in 1961, making him a controversial figure in history. The debate about the name of the drink has been active for several years, but there is still no uniform opinion on it. How t online describes, the Christmas market season in Frankfurt am Main also reignited this discussion, as stand operators there were also asked to change the name.

A step in the right direction

Michael Gerber, the managing director of Erlebnis Bremerhaven, explained that they were aware of the controversy and strongly condemned racism. Against this background, the showmen were informed about the problem and asked to avoid the name “Lumumba” in the future. Even if there are no official regulations, many retailers have already switched to the alternatives “hot chocolate with rum” or “cocoa with a shot”. Another option that could become established is the term “Dead Aunt”, which has its origins in a legend from the island of Föhr.

The majority of stalls have already complied with this request, so switching to the new names is ultimately hardly a problem for many. Gerber is sure that most visitors don't necessarily think about colonialism or oppression when ordering a Lumumba, but the discussion itself is seen as part of a respectful social change that is important.

A big response to the topic

The debate over naming is not new. The change in drink names is already being discussed in other cities such as Frankfurt. Similar to Bremerhaven, the organizers there have called for a switch to alternative names, which shows that this topic also has cultural and social relevance. It remains to be seen whether this awareness will also spread to other areas, such as gastronomy and event culture in Germany.

In fact, the name “Lumumba” remains controversial, and its origin is unclear. Some say he has Spanish roots, while others believe the left is trying to show solidarity with Lumumba. In the current discussion about the connection between the term and its possible racist connotations, society's attitude ultimately plays a decisive role.

The developments at the Christmas market in Bremerhaven can be seen as an example of the necessary dialogue in our society. It will be exciting to see how the discussion will develop in the future, especially in times when sensitivity to cultural issues is constantly increasing.