As Christmas approaches, cities worldwide are adorned with festive decorations, creating a magical atmosphere. A giant Christmas tree is an essential part of the celebrations. Here is a list of the world's most beautiful and admired Christmas trees.
The first Christmas tree on the list is located in France, where a giant Christmas tree is decorated yearly at Galeries Lafayette in Paris. The tree's theme changes every season, and this year, it has been decorated with an Arctic theme by French artist Lorenzo Papace, using marché paper to create meteorites, outer space, and other celestial bodies. It is a work of art that should not be missed if you are in Paris during the holidays.
In Brazil, Christmas is celebrated grandly, as is the custom in the country. One of the most unique Christmas trees can be seen in Rio de Janeiro, standing over 80 meters above the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. This massive decoration was unveiled in 2014 and follows the authentic Brazilian style. The tree is constructed annually on a boat and is adorned with over three million lights. Although this tradition was suspended for two years, it has returned and will continue.
Another of the most unique Christmas trees can be found in Vilnius, Lithuania. Many consider it one of the most beautiful Christmas trees in Europe and the world. This tree is a metal scaffold up to 20 meters high. It comprises thousands of branches and more than five kilometers of lights. The tree is located on the main square of the Lithuanian capital, where visitors can enjoy being surrounded by endless lights. Visitors can also visit the traditional Christmas market, which covers an area of about 2500 square meters.
Christmas lovers can find the world's largest Christmas tree in the medieval town of Gubbio, Italy. Despite its name, it is not a tree but a figure of decorative lights and lighting. The construction spans 650 meters down the slopes of Mount Ingino and is made up of thousands of multicolored flashes and over ten kilometers of wiring. This Christmas tree broke the Guinness World Record in 1991 for being the largest Christmas tree in the world.
New York is renowned for its holiday decorations, and the Christmas tree standing tall in Rockefeller Center is perhaps the most famous one in the world. The tree, which is around 20 to 30 meters in height, is the centerpiece of one of the most popular annual shows in the city. The tradition of decorating and illuminating the tree dates back to 1933, when Rockefeller Center was still being built. With over eight kilometers of lights and a three-meter-high star made of Swarovski crystals, it is one of the most stunning Christmas wonders in the world.
If you add Christmas decorations to a city with an enchanting atmosphere, it becomes one of the most incredible places to visit during the holiday season. In Prague, a majestic Christmas tree is in the middle of the Christmas markets, just a short walk from the Cathedral. In Strasbourg, one of the oldest Christmas scenes in France, there is a Christmas tree that is almost 450 years old. The switching on the lights and the central tree is one of the year's most meaningful events, with the tree standing out for its considerable size and undeniable beauty.
However, it is not just in Europe that people enjoy decorating these essential elements of Christmas. In Mexico City, next to the solemn Metropolitan Cathedral, there is the monumental Zócalo tree.
It is interesting to know that Taiwan also has its own Christmas tree. An extraordinary Christmas tree is located at the heart of the Xinban special district in a Christmas playground called 'Christmasland.' Even though the holiday is not widely celebrated in Taiwan, people there still find an excuse to have fun.
One of the most quintessential Christmas symbols is located in Madrid's Puerta del Sol. In the Spanish capital, there is a Christmas atmosphere in every corner. Over 200 streets in the city are illuminated. Still, the gigantic ball of 12 meters in diameter, located at the intersection of Gran Vía and Calle de Alcalá, with 43,000 lights, and the tree of the Puerta del Sol, stand out among all the city's decorations. These are some of the best places to take and share a great Christmas photo on social media.