First Christmas Tree Riga Latvia in year 1510

Finland has Santa Claus. Russia has traditional handmade Christmas ornaments. Germany has Christmas markets. But arguably the most well-known of Christmas traditions -- decorating the Christmas tree -- may have its origin in Latvia. And it's all but unknown.

In the past, there have been stories about Martin Luther walking in the woods near Riga and he created the first Christmas Tree. But actually, the Riga tree reference and the Martin Luther Tree reference are two different occurrences.

	Riga's First Christmas Tree

	year 1510

The Martin Luther Tree was not the Riga Tree. In fact, little is known about the original Riga tree other than the fact that it was attended by men wearing black hats, and that after a ceremony, they burnt the tree.

This was a mixture of pagan and Christian custom, as were very many of the customs in Central/Northern Europe at that time.

The Martin Luther walk in the forest, believed to actually in Northern Germany and his lighted tree actually occurred several decades later.

In Latvia as in all of northern Europe, many other traditions that we now consider part of Christian worship were begun as a part of pagan activities where people were living their life as they had done for hundreds of years before.

The pagans of northern Europe celebrated the their own winter solstice, known as Yule. Yule was symbolic of the pagan Sun God, Mithras, being born, and was observed on the shortest day of the year. As the Sun God grew and matured, the days became longer and warmer.

It was customary to light a candle to encourage Mithras, and the sun, to reappear next year.

Huge Yule logs were burned in honor of the sun. The word Yule itself means wheel, the wheel being a pagan symbol for the sun. Mistletoe was considered a sacred plant, and the custom of kissing under the mistletoe began as a fertility ritual. Holly berries were thought to be a food of the gods.

The tree is the one symbol that unites almost all the northern European winter solstices. Live evergreen trees were often brought into homes during the harsh winters as a reminder to inhabitants that soon their crops would grow again.

In all societies, there were people who filled the roles of judge, doctor, diviner, mage, mystic, and clerical scholar - they were the religious intelligentsia of their culture.

These people often used the tree as a religious symbol, holding their sacred ceremonies while surrounding and worshipping huge trees and gathering around a large bonfire.

The legend says that the first Riga tree in 1510 was decorated with paper flowers and burnt on the bonfire after the ceremony; most probably, with a toast for the future, with steins held high!

According to Countess Maria Hubert von Staufer of the organization Christmas Archives International based in the England, "Riga is very important in the History of the Christmas Tree". more historical information

Riga Latvia was the home of the first Christmas tree

The location of this first recorded evergreen tree being used in a new year (Christmas) celebration was in Town Hall Square in Riga Latvia.

Located just meters or yards from the majestic Daugava River banks that was a major transportation route in the early Latvian development.

Clarification Note on History of First Christmas Tree

Note: There is some interesting intrigue in this history. According to the organization Christmas Archives International UK, "little is known about the original Riga tree other than the fact that it was attended by men wearing black hats, and that after a ceremony, they burn the tree. This was a mixture of pagan and Christian custom, as were very many of the customs in Central Europe."

Apparently, there were actually two separate trees and the references below to the Martin Luther tree may actually be later than 1510 and maybe not in Riga. The Riga tree in 1510 is the first decorated tree and Martin Luther's decorated tree was in the early 16th century, according to the organization Christmas Archives International UK .

"I hope that you do not mind me telling you this, but as Riga is very important in the History of the Christmas Tree, I thought it best to tell you so that you will not have erroneous information", stated a representative of the organization.

The Baltic Times Newspaper

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Riga's First Christmas Tree - year 1510

Riga's 2001 Christmas Tree - Domes Square

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By Krista Taurins, Riga, Latvia - 20 December 2001, The Baltic Times

Finland has jolly old Saint Nick. Russia has hand-painted blown glass Christmas decorations. Germany has Christmas markets.

But in terms of home-grown Christmas legends and traditions, Latvia - believed to be the birthplace of the decorated Christmas tree - may have the most marketable one of all.

And it's barely doing a thing about it.

According to the story; in 1510 Martin Luther, walking through a Riga forest, was touched by the beauty of the moonlight glistening on the branches of a fir tree, He chopped a little one down and brought it home for his children. He attached candles to its branches to recreate the moonlight and -viola -the world's first decorated Christmas tree was recorded in Riga.

Search the Internet for "Christmas traditions" and "Latvia" and you'll be swamped with mentions of Riga as the Christmas tree's hometown. CNN even did a piece on it. Ask a local Latvian about it, however, and you are likely to be met with a puzzled expression.

Christmas concept American businessman and long-time Riga resident J.C. Cole has been encouraging Western Christmas traditions in Riga for several years like the first ever lights on Jacob's Barracks a few years ago - when he first heard of Riga's Christmas tree heritage.

Cole first learned of the story in a book outlining the history of the Christmas tree. Then earlier this year he began developing the idea of holding a Christmas market in Riga Old Town's Dome Square.

Part of the publicity for the market includes the story of the birth of the Christmas tree, but still the concept needs to become common knowledge among local Latvians.

"This has got to be a Latvian thing," said Mike Johnson, an American working in the tourist industry in Riga, who is on the market's board of directors.

Johnson hopes that hotels and local companies will latch on to the idea and give it a local base, adding the marketing scheme cannot be an American Chamber of Commerce initiative if it is to succeed.

Local roots Australian-Latvian and Riga resident Aldis Tilens, who sells handmade souvenirs in Latvia and abroad, agreed that marketing the Christmas tree tradition needs to be a home-grown phenomenon.

Tilens first heard the Christmas tree legend two years ago and was surprised to find out it was news to his local employees.

He sees the Martin Luther story as something that could unite Latvians.

"Latvians are still coming to terms with their identity," he said. "Is it an event, a cultural difference or geography that sets them apart? This is something that Latvians can latch on to that could be a source of pride,"

Ojars Kalnins, wlio heads the Latvian Institute; which works to promote Latvia abroad, said his organization could incorporate the Christmas tree story in materials it distributes about Latvia.

As he put it, the vast majority of the world knows nothing about the country.

A knowledgeable percentage may associate Latvia with the former Soviet Union. Others may have had a chance encounter through a mention in the world press - such as the story of Konrads Kalejs or the teenage girl who slapped a British royal in the face with red carnations recently.

The Christmas tree story is a reminder that Latvia was, and still is, a European country with a European culture, Kalnins said. And it is all in addition to the obvious benefits for business and tourism, of course.

Finnish finesse Finland may be a prime example for Latvia on how to market holiday traditions. Finland has Lapland, which is known around the world as the home of Santa Claus.
In 1984, the Finnish airline Finnair began to market itself as "The Official Carrier of Santa Claus." It involved a logo, which has evolved several times over the years, as well as decorations on aircraft, airports and offices.

Finnair also produced yearly Finland Santa Claus package tour spanning not only Christmastime; but from early December to late January.

The airline even went so far as to hold promotional tours with Santa himself; as far away as the company's Asian destinations.

Until 1997, Finnair cooperated with the Arctic Circle Santa Village near the Finnish city of Rovaniemi and the Santa Claus mail office, allowing passengers to send letters to Santa using an envelope sold on board.

Finnair brand manager Kari Tiitola said the company had benefited from the man in red and his association with Finland.

"The direct benefits are in terms of awareness and corporate image, (rather than) incremental revenue because this is difficult to measure," he wrote. "I'm afraid no figures are available, but (it is evident that) it was beneficial to us."

About a year ago, the company saw the opportunity to combine its efforts w1th a comprehensive Santa Claus theme, covering all the major stake-holders in Finland.

Since Finland, and at least one of its major companies, has cashed in on the universal and immediately understandable concept of Christmas, Latvia has a blueprint on how to base its fame on a holiday legend.

"I could see the export of 'real Christmas trees,' or toys made from genuine Latvian fir from the home of the Christmas tree," Tilens said. The idea is out there; someone just needs to grab the reindeer by the horns.

The Baltic Times Newspaper

More about the History of the Christmas Tree from Latvians Online

Information from Christmas Archives International UK

in an email to Patricia LTD, date Thursday, January 17, 2002, 5:51:37 PM .......

Hello and New Year Greetings from England!

I found your site whilst searching for something else. I notice that you link to my site www.christmasarchives.com/tree.html

I am happy about this, thank you for the compliment.

I also notice that you have printed some news items about the Riga first tree.

These are contradicting the original text by me, and also by Snyder, The Christmas Tree, which is also referred to on your pages.

The Riga tree reference and the Martin Luther Tree reference are two different references. The Martin Luther Tree was not the Riga Tree. In fact, little is known about the original Riga tree other than the fact that it was attended by men wearing black hats, and that after a ceremony, they burn the tree. This was a mixture of pagan and Christian custom, as were very many of the customs in Central Europe.

The Martin Luther Tree was several decades later. The report in the Baltic Times newspaper seems to have put the two events together to make one.

I hope that you do not mind me telling you this, but as Riga is very important in the History of the Christmas Tree, I thought it best to tell you so that you will not have erroneous information.

If I can assist you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Best and Warm wishes, and congratulations on a very attractive site. I hope to have the opportunity to visit your Christmas market next year.

Maria
Countess Maria Hubert von Staufer
Christmas Archives International UK

Winter Solstice Pagan Festival - Log Pull through the streets		Santa Claus visits for lighting of First Christmas Tree
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Christmas Market - 2005 - Historic Dome Square		Photo Icons of Riga Latvia

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