Why are there trees on top of two Amelia Square homes?

One of the two trees atop Amelia Square can be seen in this photo.

People who have passed by the Amelia Square site in downtown Fredericksburg over the past few days might have wondered why there is a small tree atop two of the four-story townhouses now under construction.

Turns out it’s part of a long-standing tradition in the construction industry called topping out.

Topping out is a ceremony that celebrates the last beam being placed atop a building. A tree or branch is often placed on the top beam, and the ceremony usually involves a toast and meal. The tradition apparently originated in Scandinavia and is common throughout Europe.

Two of the owners of the homes being built at Amelia Square have spent ample time in Germany and asked for the topping-out ceremony to be performed at their units, said Patrick Gay, one of the builders who is developing the complex. The project’s framer put up the trees during a ceremony this past weekend.

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