Figure of the month: 10,419,500

The origins of the Christmas tree tradition are still not entirely clear, but the first written reference to a fully decorated Christmas tree dates back to 1419 in Freiburg, Germany. Since then, many families, especially in Europe and the US, have been cultivating the tradition of a conifer decorated with red and gold baubles and lots of tinsel in their living rooms during the festive season. In Germany it is usually a Nordmann fir, which costs around €100 complete with decorations, or significantly more – especially if the tree decorations are made of real gold.

The top 3 most valuable Christmas trees ever

The third most valuable Christmas tree in the world as well as the most expensive one in Europe was erected for one season in Munich in 2018: a major gold dealer had a Christmas tree made from over 2,000 Philharmonic gold coins. The tree structure was a three-metre acrylic pyramid, placed in the so-called Goldhaus and worth more than €2.3 million. The second most valuable Christmas tree was erected in 2011 in the luxurious Ginza shopping district in Tokyo, 2.40 metres high and decorated with 50 Disney characters made of 24-carat gold. With almost 40 kilograms of gold and other decorations, the Christmas tree was worth €3.91 million.

Unbeaten since 2010: the Christmas tree at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi

Constructed 13 years ago in a 7-star hotel in Abu Dhabi, the 15-metre-high scaffolding of the most valuable Christmas tree of all time alone cost over €9,000. In addition to the traditional 24-carat Christmas decorations, it was richly adorned with luxury necklaces, earrings and wristwatches made of pure gold and diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires. However, the €10,419,500 symbol of Christian culture was not well received by the citizens of Abu Dhabi, and the Emirates Palace Hotel has since refrained from such extravagances.