Visittallinn.ee: The story of the Christmas tree on Town Hall square (video)

Visittallinn.ee | 2023.12.20

Christmas wouldn't be the same without the majestic and beautiful Christmas tree that has been a part of Christmas in Tallinn for over 580 years!

We don't really know for sure where the tradition of the Christmas tree originates from. But what we do know is that Tallinn was the first place in Europe to have a public Christmas tree.

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The tradition of the public Christmas tree goes back all the way to 1441 when the Brotherhood of Black Heads put a Christmas tree up on Tallinn Town Hall Square.

Historian Jüri Kuuskemaa has investigated the matter in the city archive and found an official document from 1441. The document states that the city council had paid for musicians who played music by the tree on Town Hall Square on the 25th of December.

So when you walk towards the lush Christmas tree in Tallinn Town Hall Square this Christmas, you are taking part of traditions that are centuries old. Because it is so old, it has also become very important for the people of Tallinn.

Looking for the right one

The Christmas tree in Tallinn Christmas Market is not just any tree. It has gone through a tight selection process before it has got the honour to become the most important Christmas tree in Estonia.

Each September the Tallinn City Centre administration announces a contest for the spruces and firs of Northern Estonia. It is one of the most anticipated contests in Estonia and followed in local news media.

The Christmas tree should be between 15 and 18 meters long, symmetrical and have dense leaves. To help get to the tree, the tree should grow in an open place and far from electric wires. Usually, the competition is open to all trees closer than 150 kilometres from Tallinn, but this year every tree from each corner of Estonia is welcome to run for Tallinn Christmas tree.

The time to nominate trees for candidates to Tallinn Christmas tree goes on until the end of September. A special committee of experts will choose the winning tree and the winner will be announced in November just before the tree is brought to the Town Hall Square.

The Christmas tree is brought to Tallinn Town Hall Square by, no-one else but the one and only Santa Claus himself. While the tree is being put up, Santa meets and greets with fans and shares candy.

The Christmas tree arrives at the Town Hall Square usually a bit before the opening of the Christmas Market. For the opening of the Christmas Market, the Christmas tree will have gotten its' decorations. At the opening ceremony, the beautiful tree will be lit and the joyful season of Christmas has officially begun.

Tallinn Christmas trees over the years

2023

This year, a 14-metre-high spruce tree from Kiili Municipality was chosen to decorate the Tallinn Town Hall Square.

2022

This time, a beautiful 15-meter-high spruce tree growing in Mustjõe village in Anija municipality was selected.

2021

The festive tree of 2021 arrived from Kuusalu parish, about 57 km from Tallinn.

2020

The 2020 Christmas tree was a 50-year-old beauty from Pääsküla, a quaint little neighbourhood in Tallinn.

2019

The Christmas tree of 2019 was from Tallinn. The majestic spruce was standing in Haabersti district, on Rõika Street.

2018

The Christmas tree of 2018 was from Tallinn. Though the competition was open for all the trees in whole Estonia, the most suitable spruce was standing in Kristiine district, just a few kilometres from the medieval Town Hall Square.

2017

The tree was a 150 years-old spruce from the lands of Saare family in Vääna-Jõesuu 30 kilometres from Tallinn. In 2017 there were 14 candidates for the Christmas tree, but none of the trees filled all the demands so the committee chose the tree among the candidates of 2016.

2016

Christmas tree of 2016 came from Raplamaa, Liivapõllu farm 100 kilometres from Tallinn. The tree was 6-7 meters shorter than the tallest Christmas tree of all times, but it was extremely dense and beautiful.

2015

The Christmas tree of 2015 was 20 meters tall and came from Nõmme farm in Pala village, approximately 80 kilometres from Tallinn. It was chosen from 8 candidates.

2014

The 23 meters-long tree came from Pahkla village, 40 kilometres from Tallinn. The winning tree didn't take part in the contest but was discovered by the personnel of Tallinn City Centre administration on a special tree searching task.

Estonian Christmas trees

For some Estonians, the Christmas tree at the Town Hall Square is the only Christmas tree and they choose not to have a Christmas tree at their home. Still, there are many, who want to have a tree inside during the holidays.

Each year approximately 10 000 trees are being brought from Estonian forests inside to Christmas trees. Estonian State Forest Management Centre has developed a mobile application that helps Estonians to search for suitable Christmas trees and locate them on a map.

The app helps people find the trees that you can cut down without harming nature and gives you tips on how to take care of the tree. The trees are not free of charge, but it is easy to pay for the tree straight from the app. The State Forest Management Centre also encourages people to plant a couple of new trees each year.

The traditional Christmas tree is a spruce, decorated with real candles and ornaments. Today the range of Christmas trees is wide. There are as many different kinds of Christmas trees as there are homes. Trees can be artificial or real ones or just a few branches in a vase. Real candles have been replaced by electronic ones. Ornaments can be hand-made or bought from the store.

Stores have a large selection of all kinds of decorations for Christmas trees. If you want a nice souvenir to hang to your Christmas tree just step to any of the Estonian design and handicraft stores or department stores. A good contemporary selection is available at Shishi interior decorations store in the new Noblessner area.