Big Kristaps, or St. Christopher is a sculpture of a very tall man, who sits on the shoulder of the little boy. In one hand he holds a paddle, and in another - a small lantern that lights the way across the river. Kristaps, under long-term service to the people, must pass everyone across the river.

Long time St. Christopher was the patron of pilots, carrier, carriers, as well as a trustee of bridges, viaducts and overpasses. Sculpture itself is made of wood, accentuated with bright colors. Who is the author of the sculpture Big Kristaps made around the beginning of the 16th century, is unknown.

In those days, the sculpture was popular and well known, there was even a saying, which mentioned three wonders of the city, including the shape of the Big Kristaps "bridge that is in the water, giant, that is gates and the bell that hangs outside the tower" .  Under the bridge in the water, which the saying goes, it is understood one of the main crossings over the Daugava (Western Dvina) connecting the inner city, which from all sides was surrounded by fortifications .  Under the third gimmick, said in the saying, you know the bell of St. Blasius, which hung outside the chapel at kiverkom, he was attached to the tower Riga Iakovlevskoy church and served as the "alarm bells" .  Well, the giant gate - more Kristaps .  The original location of the sculpture is unknown .  However, in the 18th century when saying acquired its final form, the statue took place at the main karlstor .  Near these gates was a small trading area, which competed with the main trading place in the Town Hall Square .

In 1861, the Big Kristaps statue took its place in a small building located on the banks of the Daugava River in the early Maskavas Street, performs the function of an important point of sale and passes through Moscow Suburb .  The place where the statue stood, was not far from the Hospital of St. George - the most important centers of charity .  Next to the glass that protects the Big Kristaps statue from the weather, there was a large wooden mug for donations .  The money transferred to the St. George Hospital .  Large donations often left members of the Riga brotherhood of carriers, as well as guest-carriers, who thus expressed gratitude to Christopher for help in overcoming the dangerous rapids of the river .  In addition, his wife and bride pilots and carriers brought here their ornaments: beads, ribbons, ribbons, necklaces, as thanks for their loved ones Saving .  All these items, after falling into the cup, revered by locals as amulets and charms, which have healing properties .  Some of them can be found in the Museum of Riga History and Navigation .

In addition, St. Christopher ascribed to the miraculous ability to heal wounds. It was believed that if the wind Kristaps hand thread or ribbon and let it hang a little, and then remove and fasten itself, the recovery is assured. There was another tradition: small children sculpture in front of St. Christopher brought a promise to behave and learn to be honest and diligent throughout the year.

In the late 18th century graduate students of the Riga Polytechnic opened its "hooligan tradition" wishes to leave on a glass booth or even the sculpture Big Kristaps. With a tradition of hard fighting policemen. Students also felt that such an act will bring good luck graduate, is entering a new life.

After the proclamation of independence in 1920. Monument began to decline. During hostilities glass booth has deteriorated as a result of it collapsed, the remains were taken wipers and a new fence nobody put. In 1923 he decided to move the wooden statue to the museum of history of Riga and Navigation. Big Kristaps there is to this day. At the present time in the booth, made of armored glass, which is located on the waterfront of the River Daugava, is a copy of the Big Kristaps.