Riga is the Christmas tree's birthplace; the now world-renowned tree's decoration tradition started right here. This season, the Christmas tree marks its 500th anniversary with special events all over Riga. Brightly-decorated Christmas trees will be displayed on Riga squares, outside culture houses and shopping centres.

Come to Riga to meet Santa Claus from Lapland and find the most beautiful Christmas tree to whisper your most secret wish!

In order to celebrate the Christmas tree's special anniversary, a memorial plaque is now set up on Riga's Town Hall Square, and the city tree's ceremonial lighting event will take place here on November 28, with a special performance and Riga Mayor's address. This will be followed by a candle-light parade via the historic streets to Dome Square, where the opening-ceremony for the Old Town Christmas Fair will be held. Here you'll have an opportunity to whisper a secret wish to Santa Claus from Lapland. In 2010, Riga, the birthplace of the Christmas tree, is the best place to find the Yuletide feeling!

More information on the Christmas tree's story will be also available at several museums. Special exhibitions on festival's celebration traditions, historic expositions and Christmas story-telling will be held at several museums on four Sundays of Advent, namely, at the Latvian National Museum of Art (28.11.2010), the Latvian Nature Museum (05.12.2010), the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation (12.12.2010) and the Literature and Music Museum (19.12.2010).

This is also a great opportunity to learn more about the museums, as well as to see the oldest Christmas tree ornament. Students from the Latvian Academy of Art will create brightly decorated traditional and modern-style Christmas trees, displayed on Old Town squares, Riga parks, various public places, and shopping centres. This is a stunning show of lights, colours, glittering decoration and stylish design to mark the 500th anniversary of Christmas tree. During Christmas time, the winter space at the "Egle" leisure park will be open for visitors, right next to the Tree of Light, offering delicious food, hot drink and various musical performances, along with an arts & crafts fair next door.

Please contact our Riga office for more information and support!