The first of the nine Christmas trees – the Tree of Light – was inaugurated June 10th. It is located in the Egle (Christmas tree) Open Air Leisure Venue and has already managed to win the hearts of Riga’s guests and Rigans as a popular place to take a snapshot. Today, the second has been unveiled – the Tree of Summer – which will decorate the Ratslaukums (Town Hall Square) until October. The structure of the Tree of Summer is being leased from SIA “Skonto būve”; the artistic rendering was provided by artists from the Daile Theatre.

“In continuing to popularise Riga as the birthplace of the Christmas tree decorating tradition, we have also provided a second surprise for Rigans and guests of the city – just before Midsummer festivities, Riga’s Summer Tree has been created in the heart of Old Riga. It is located in the Ratslaukums, in the very place where 500 years ago Rigans marvelled at the first decorated Christmas tree in the world. Until autumn it will complement the Egle, the Outdoor Recreational Park unveiled last week, and the Tree of Light. Together with our partners, we have provided a total of nine thematic firs in various places in Riga’s centre; these have been joined together in a unified tourist path. Our aim in this year is to take advantage of Riga’s special status, thus we are developing a range of activities in this direction. We are convinced that in the autumn of this year Riga will be internationally recognised as the Christmas tree capital of 2010,” says Gastons Neimanis, Director of the Riga Tourism Development Bureau (RTDB).

This summer the RTDB together with a series of LIVE RīGA partners have provided nine thematic Christmas trees in Riga’s centre (a card indicating the path of the Christmas tree story will be available in Latvian, Russian and English at all of the thematic points of interest):

• Tree of Summer – Historical place of the Christmas tree – until October 1^st, the colourfully decorated artificial fir will be available for viewing in the Ratslaukums, a reminder of Riga’s special role in the context of decorating Christmas trees (a card indicating the path of the fir tree story is available at the Tourism Information Centre in the House of Blackheads);
• Tree of History– The Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation will offer interested persons the opportunity to view a special exposition about Riga, its inhabitants and traditions 500 years ago, when the special Christmas tree decoration tradition began;
• Tree of Gifts– It will be located in a shop at Tirgonu street 5/7. Here one will be able to glean ideas for Christmas gifts and purchase original souvenirs, including from LIVE RīGA’s line of souvenirs;
• Tree of Light – located in the Egle Open Air Leisure Venue on Kalku street 1a. This is the first of the nine firs and was unveiled on June 10^th of this year. The Tree of Light has already become a popular place for Rigans and visitors to the city to pose for a photo. On the tree there has been placed an electronic clock that counts the time until the First Advent. The Egle Open Air Leisure Venue is also the official representative office of Riga’s Christmas tree;
• Tree of Flowers– In Livu Square three firs made of flowers are being created; these will be replaced on a regular basis with seasonal blossoms;
• Tree of Music– will be located in the Folk Music Store UPE. Persons visiting the Tree of Music will learn how to give their Christmas tree a second life by crafting from it a trideksnis, a popular Latvian folk music instrument;
• Tree of Water– a tour of Riga from the canal in an refined wooden boat and the captain’s tale of the origin of the Christmas tree tradition – an attractive surprise for tourists and Rigans;
• Tree of Art– will be located in the Spikeri Quarter of creative industries. In this location the Christmas tree theme will continue all year in a particularly unusual way. It will be an opportunity for artists to express their vision of the Christmas tree theme;
• Tree of Taste– will be located in the desa&co shop/bistro on Maskavas iela 4. Special Christmas delicacies will be available here starting already in mid-year.

In all of the listed fir-path locations, various novelties await you this summer and autumn, because the points of interest will change over the course of time. We will be announcing all of these events separately on our webpage – www.liveriga.com.

We thank LIVE RīGA’s partners for their responsiveness in involving themselves in creation of the Christmas tree story trail!