It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas 2020! 'Pathetic' tree erected outside Macy's in Cincinnati is described as the ultimate symbol of holidays amid the pandemic - but officials hit back saying it is still being 'fluffed up and beautified'
A sparse and sad-looking Christmas tree erected outside Macy's in Cincinnati, Ohio has been dubbed the 'ultimate symbol of 2020'.
Photos of the 'pathetic' spruce were shared to social media on Saturday, with dozens of users claiming it perfectly reflected a gloomy year that featured racially-motivated violence, political turmoil and a global pandemic.
'Not sure what happened to the Christmas tree at Fountain Square but it's the most #Christmas2020 tree ever,' Cincinnati Enquirer photojournalist Cara Owsley wrote on Twitter.
She then shared an image of the tree, which featured an exposed trunk and thin, drooping branches.
A 'pathetic' sparse Christmas tree erected outside Macy's in Cincinnati, Ohio has been dubbed the 'ultimate symbol of 2020'
The 65-foot Norway spruce was hardly a symbol of festive cheer, with its exposed trunk and thin, drooping branches
Twitter users mocked the tree, claiming it perfectly reflected a gloomy year that featured racially-motivated violence, political turmoil and a global pandemic
Owsley's tweet prompted a flurry of humorous replies, with one writing: 'The downtown Cincinnati Christmas tree could not be more on brand for 2020 if it tried'.
Another claimed the tree looked rather unhealthy, stating: 'It's got the coronavirus!'
Meanwhile, several others compared the sad-looking spruce to the cartoon tree featured in the 1965 film A Charlie Brown Christmas.
But while the internet delighted in images of a holiday tree that looked far from festive, officials hit back saying they were still in the process of properly installing it.
In a post on Facebook, Fountain Square officials wrote: '2020 has been a rough year for all of us, including our tree.
Reaction to the tree was split. Some affectionately saw it as as the perfect symbol to sum up a miserable 2020, while others bluntly dubbed it 'pathetic'
'Our team is hard at work making this 65’ Norway Spruce beautiful for the holiday season. Stay tuned for transformation photos as we get her fluffed up and beautified after her long drive into town.'
Several days later a local news reporter shared a photo after the tree had been filled out and given a makeover.
'This 2020 glow up should give us all hope for the future,' one quipped.
The tree will now be decorated ahead of an official lighting ceremony, set to take place on November 27.
Several days later a local news reporter shared a photo after the tree had been filled out and given a makeover