1521, Sélestat cradle of the christmas tree



Sélestat is home to the oldest known record to date of the tradition of the Christmas trees.

This now famous record has led the inhabitants of Sélestat to claim all the merit for starting up the tradition of decorationg the Christmas trees !

The record is displayed in the Humanist Library

The history of the Christmas tree

301 Ko
To download the history of the Christmas tree in Pdf

The record


The ledger comes from the archives of the town

‘Item IIII schillings dem foerster die meyen an sanct Thomas tag zu hieten’

To pay four schillings to the forest ward to keep watch over the trees from St Thomas day



Discover the record !

In the Humanist Library
from 9 to 12 am and from 2 to 6 pm
saturday from 9 to 12 am
closed on tuesday and sunday