You won't believe it, but it turns out that the world's first Christmas tree was erected... in Riga! Yes, Riga beat Strasbourg by 95 years: it was here, for the first time, in 1510, in Town Hall Square, that a Christmas tree was decorated and round dances were held around it. In any case, the people of Riga believe this version and therefore, 500 years later, in 2010, installed a "permanent" Christmas tree in the recreation park, which is called just that - "Yolka". Since then, it has been one of Riga's main attractions, and every visitor considers it a must to take a photo by the seven-meter mirrored structure stylized as a New Year's tree.
And this recreation park in Old Riga is now called nothing less than the official representative office of the Christmas tree. It covers an area of up to 2.5 thousand sq. m and can accommodate up to 1000 visitors at the same time. In essence, it is an open-air restaurant filled with tables and offering various dishes, drinks, and many varieties of beer. In addition to the restaurant, right in the center, there is a stage where concerts featuring local groups are held every evening.
You can also stroll through the shopping rows to choose an original souvenir from Latvian artisans. And don't forget to take a commemorative photo - after all, you have visited not just any place, but the birthplace of the Christmas tree!
