It’s “fresh and exciting” — that’s how mall administrators explained the elimination of a Christmas tree near Santa’s photograph area.

Santa’s new digs at the SouthPark Mall in Charlotte, North Carolina look more like a Star Trek set and parents aren’t happy about it.

“The giant white mound will feature interactive elements, including a sound and light show every 30 minutes,” the Charlotte Observer reports.

Parents launched a petition demanding that the Christmas tree return. So far, it has over 18,000 signatures.

After mall patrons began complaining about the new set up — and the elimination of the Christmas tree — mall administrators issued a statement saying:

SouthPark is thrilled to be among the first wave of Simon centers to receive the new ”Glacier” Santa experience. The reinvented and modernized experience will bring the Charlotte community together in a way that hasn’t been done before.

Simon values tradition, and that’s exactly why we wanted to refresh and modernize our holiday experience at SouthPark to keep the tradition fresh and exciting.

This new experience will delight our shoppers and their families with fun and interactive elements, including a sound and light show every 30 minutes. We’re aiming to create a magical experience – something truly different and fun for families to enjoy together this year and for years to come.

David Britt and his children actually wrote as song about the disappearance of the Christmas tree, titled, “Have a Holly Jolly Glacier”:

“Why?” one of the children says in the video. “I don’t know why.” the other says.

“Bring back the tree,” the father says, strumming his guitar.

The Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island also erected a glacier display. It’s owned by the same company that owns Charlotte’s SouthPark.

“Me and my husband looked at each other and said, ‘What is that?’ ” shopper Maria Lovdahl tells the New York Post. “They said it was because people were offended by the traditional Christmas display, that they had gotten comments in prior years.”

She said she will no longer shop at Roosevelt Field.

Another shopped, Caren Toal, called mall administrators to learn what prompted the change.

“The people who answered the phone at the mall actually said, in order not to offend anyone, they were simplifying the Christmas display,” she says, adding, she too, will no longer shop there.