Riga is rich in interesting places and unusual landmarks. But few people know that Riga is the birthplace of the Christmas tree. Yes, the one that appears everywhere around the world during the winter holidays.

In medieval Europe, there was a widespread tradition: instead of decorating the fir tree for Christmas, it was burnt. Citizens carried a large log through the main square of the city and then, on Christmas Eve, took it home or placed it nearby and slowly burnt it during the 12 days of the holiday.

In 1510, young merchants and ship captains, members of the Brotherhood of Blackheads, were getting ready for Christmas and wanted to spend it on a grand scale. They brought a vast fir-tree from the forest, planning to burn it on the banks of the Daugava. While they were solving some pressing problems in their luxurious mansion in the city center, the local children saw the green beauty they brought and decided to decorate it. Before long, dried berry wreaths, paper crafts, colored ribbons, everything that the children could find at home found its place on the huge Christmas tree.

When the Blackheads went out into the street, they saw the decorated fir-tree, powdered with snow and glistening under the moonlight. It looked so beautiful that, to the delight of the children and citizens, they decided not to burn it but to dress it up annually and put it on the central Town Hall Square.

This is how this tradition was founded in Riga, and now people all over the world have been keeping with it for over 500 years.

In honor of this event, in December 2017, on the Town Hall Square of Riga, next to the House of the Blackheads, a beautiful installation was inaugurated: a bronze fir-tree and a memorial sign that says that the first Christmas tree in Europe was installed here in 1510.

There is a belief among locals and guides that this little Christmas tree can make your wishes come true. For that, you need to do a circle dance around it. And if you are traveling alone, it will be enough just to go around it three times clockwise.