It is interesting to know when and which countries were illuminated with Christmas street decorations perceived by Internet users as men’s underpants. According to Georgian and Russian-language sources, the photo spread shortly before the New Year and depicting street decorations in a form of upside down triangles may be taken in Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Tomsk or Sevastopol. Several days ago, the photo posted by intermedia.ge on December 3, 2016 with a caption “Christmas ‘underpants’ in the streets of Kutaisi… (Better if they sewed a lace to it)” was again spread on social media. This fact has once again raised the question – Kutaisi, Tbilisi, Tomsk, Sevastopol or Eislingen – where are the decorations causing mixed reactions among viewers actually hanging?
In fact, the photo spread by Georgian and Russian-language sources depicting Christmas street decorations was taken in a German city of Eislingen in 2015.
How did Tomsk appear on the list?
An employee of the Tbilisi City Hall denied the authenticity of the photo spread on Georgian social media in December 2016, according to which the Mayor decorated the city with underpants. She stated that the photo depicted Russian city of Tomsk, not Tbilisi.
Why does not the photo depict Sevastopol?
The photo allegedly showing New Year’s decorations in Kutaisi and Tbilisi in various years was also posted by Tweeter user Roman Davydenko on December 1, 2016. The photo has a caption: “The streets of occupied Sevastopol are decorated with garlands in a form of women’s panties…” A red banner reading “Борщ” is also seen on the photo. This fact, at a glance, strengthens doubts that the photo was taken in a Russian-language city.
The same information about New Year’s decorations in Sevastopol was later spread by several Russian-language media outlets: zik.ua, blackseanews.net, sevastopolis.com, kriminal.tv, fedpress.ru, vlasti.net, sevastopol.bezformata.com, Flashcrimea.com,patrioty.org.ua, meridian.in.ua
Fact No.1
In December 2016, decorations of previous year were put up in Sevastopol.
33.53 million rubles were allocated for Sevastopol’s New Year decorations in 2016. But due to an unsuccessful tender, decorations of the previous year were put up in the city. The photos depicting New Year’s decorations of Sevastopol in 2016-2017 do not show lightings in a form of upside down triangles. A representative of the city hall also denied the existence of such illuminations in the city.
Fact No.2
The photo spread on Twitter has been photoshopped.
After looking closely at the image, you will find that the word “Борщ” on the right side of the photo is actually placed on the photo itself, not on the banner.
Which city was decorated with “the rain of stars” in a form of triangles?
“Lots of people laugh when they see these Christmas decorations. In fact, they are big triangles made up of lots of little lights. They hang over the streets in the town of Eislingen. That is in the state of Baden-Württemberg… Whether star rain or knickers – this Christmas decoration is definitely something special!” a German-language media outlet wrote in 2015.
“The rain of stars” even became a symbol of the city for some Internet users: “The underpants belong to Eislingen, what would Christmas be without this decoration?”
The city administration of Eislingen calls the Christmas lights “rain of stars.” However, many Eislingers – and users on the Internet – come up with completely different names.
That the photo was taken in Germany is proved by a yellow traffic sign. The same sign is blue in Sevastopol.
Traffic sign on the photo spread on the Internet
Traffic sign in Eislingen
Traffic sign in Sevastopol
