100 years of the Christmas tree

The Christmas tree will be standing on náměstí Svobody (Freedom Square) for the 100th time this year!

A tree with two stories

People often wish for a Christmas tree to be perfectly straight, tall enough, not missing any branches – in short, without a single flaw. In the case of a tree growing in the forest, where the one on náměstí Svobody (Freedom Square) has been growing for 100 years, it is difficult to achieve such symmetry, because they do not grow as solitary trees in the garden, but among other trees, so they do not have the opportunity to grow evenly and sometimes a branch is missing or ugly.That's the first story.

And the other one? This one explains why every year the Christmas tree comes from the university forests. Because it has a poignant history dating back to 1919, when a writerRudolf Těsnohlídek rescued a little girl abandoned in the woods near Bílovice nad Svitavou. He was struck by this event and wondered how to further help abandoned children. During a visit to Copenhagen he noticed a decorated tree and brought the custom back to us.In 1924, his idea was implemented for the first time and the square in Brno was decorated with the first public Christmas tree from the forest.

Thanks to the charity collection that took place under the tree, in the following years a children's home was built in Brno, designed by Bohuslav Fuchs.children's home built. It was opened in 1929 and named after Queen Dagmar of Denmark, who was famous for her care of the poor.The collection still takes place under the Christmas tree today and is organised by the Czech Red Cross.

The first in the Czech Republic and Central Europe

The very first public Christmas tree was lit in New York in 1912. The first European tree was in Copenhagen in 1914, and in our country and probably in Central Europe, it was the aforementioned tree inBrno in 1924.In 1926 Pilsen joined the tradition of Christmas trees in the squares, then Prague.

A Czech Television documentary about the Christmas Tree of the Republic can be seenhere.

When will the Christmas tree in Brno be lit?

Brno's first Christmas tree will be lit on náměstí Svobody (Freedom Square) on the opening day of Brno Christmas 22/11/2024 at 5 pm! Christmas trees will follow in other squares.

Don't forget to visit

31. Christmas
at Brno City Hall
23/12 2023
10.00-16:00

23/12 2023 10.00-16:00