Łotwa 1 łat Choinka Bożonarodzeniowa 2009
Łotwa 1 łat Choinka Bożonarodzeniowa 2009
Łotwa 1 łat Choinka Bożonarodzeniowa 2009
Dane monety:
Stan I unc prosto z rolki
Nominał 1 łat = 6,5 pln
Waga 4,8 g
Średnica 21,75 mm
Nakład 300 tys.
Stop CuNi
Rok 2007 wysyłka natychmiast!
Struck in 2009 by Staatliche Münze Berlin (Germany)
Artists: Arvīds Priedīte (graphic design), Ligita Franckeviča (plaster
model)
Obverse
The large coat of arms of the Republic of Latvia, with the year 2009
inscribed below, is placed in the centre. The inscriptions LATVIJAS and
REPUBLIKA, each arranged in a semicircle, are above and beneath the
central motif respectively.
Reverse
A decorated Christmas tree is depicted in the centre of the coin, with
the numeral 1 and the inscription LATS placed to the left and right of
it respectively.
Edge
Two inscriptions LATVIJAS BANKA (Bank of Latvia), separated by rhombic
dots.
Fir-trees are evergreen conifers; in Latvia, they cover one fifth of
all forest area. A fir-tree may grow as long as 120 years and reach a
height of up to 40 metres. Though its "life expectancy" is over 300
years, more often than not a fir-tree is destined to a short-lived
life, albeit in exchange for the opportunity to bring people much joy.
Since we are becoming increasingly environment conscious, our Christmas
tree is frequently cultivated or even artificial rather than one felled
right there in the thicket.
In Latvia, the tradition to decorate a fir-tree has a history that
spans five centuries. The solstice rituals of the Latvians of yore -
series of masquerades starting on Mārtiņš (St. Martin's) Day in
November and ending at Meteņi (or Vastlāvji, an approximate pagan
Latvian counterpart for Shrove Tuesday) in February - cohabitate with
Christian traditions of Advent and celebrating Christmas. In
Christianity the fir-tree symbolises the tree of knowledge in the
Garden of Eden and Christ's gift - the hope of eternal life, but the
lit candles in the tree are a reflection of the light Christ brought to
a world of darkness.
Honouring Christ's birth, it was in Riga where for the first time ever
a Christmas tree was adorned with flowers and then burnt in 1510 before
Shrove Tuesday. To commemorate this event documented by the Brotherhood
of Blackheads, a memorial plate in eight languages was laid in the
cobbled square in front of the Riga Town Hall a couple of years ago.
The Christmas Archives in the United Kingdom, too, have identical
information. In the Christian world, the Christmas tree tradition first
spread in the German lands and then to Great Britain, the United
States, and elsewhere.
The festive merriment of seeing the old year out and the new year in
goes hand in hand with peace of mind and self-purification. It unites
us and asks to take care of those who have been less lucky. A
glittering Christmas tree with candles lit in its branches is a symbol
that helps us find our common way to peace, harmony, and goodwill.
