Riga is
the capital and the largest city of Latvia and of the
Baltic states. It lies on the Gulf of Riga, at the mouth of the Daugava.
Riga was
founded in 1201 and is a former Hanseatic League member. Riga’s historic center
is UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the heart of the Old Riga, there is a Museum
of the History of Riga and Navigation. At the museum, you can find a statue of
Big Christopher, which holds a legend.
A long
time ago a very strong ferryman lived on the banks of the Daugava. Once in the
dark a little boy came to him and asked to be carried across the river. Though
a thunderstorm raged, the man could not refuse the little boy, took him on his
shoulder and carried him over the turbulent waves. Half way across, the weight
became so heavy that the man could only continue with great effort. However, he
pulled himself together and with the last of his powers put the boy safely on
the riverside. This boy turned out to be a child-Christ and so the carrier
received the name of Kristaps (Christopher).
In about 1510 a wooden sculpture appeared in Riga on the Daugava
banks, called Big Christopher. The people of Riga loved it greatly. They often
visited Big Christopher, decorated him with ribbons and floral wreaths, lit
candles and begged for his protection against evil. The people honored this
statue irrespective of their specific faith, which enabled it to be preserved
until the present time.
Source: https://www.riga.lv/EN/Channels/About_Riga/History_of_Riga/Stories/Legendas/LielaisKristaps.htm
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