Around the world, the winter holidays are celebrated in a myriad of ways...
The illuminated Champs-Élysées
The Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City is perhaps the best known holiday decoration in the United States. This tradition has taken place every year since 1931 with the tree ranging from 30 to 90 feet tall!
The first Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
The current Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center
In Italy, the island of Murano is home to the world's tallest glass tree. Made entirely of hand blown
Murano glass by Simone Cenedese.
At the White House in Washington, D.C., more than 90 volunteers from 24 states help in decorating the presidential residence from top to bottom.
The official White House Christmas tree is displayed in the Blue Room.
The White House gingerbread house (covered in white chocolate), by pastry chef Bill Yosses.
In Budapest, Hungary, "light paintings" by Peter Kozma illuminate the walls of buildings in Roosevelt Square.
Budapest, Hungary
In Curitiba, Brazil, a choir of 160 children sing from the windows of the Palacio Avenida. More than 400 people are involved in the production, including electricians, firemen, producers and 160 "guardian angels" who look after the children.
Curitiba, Brazil
At the Caretta Shiodome in Tokyo, Japan, the plaza is illuminated by tens of thousands of lights with the theme of “Blue Ocean.”
The Red City Hall in Berlin, Germany illuminates its huge Christmas tree with 24,000 white light emitting diodes (LEDs), which create a beautiful effect while using 80 percent less energy than regular lights.
Elsewhere in Berlin, the Hauptbahnhof train station uses over 1,500 stars to decorate the exterior of the station and features a massive Swarovski Christmas tree inside.
Germany is not alone in its use of these dazzling crystals. The main train station in Zurich, Switzerland features a 50-foot tall Christmas tree with more than 5000 Swarovski crystal ornaments.
Holiday decorations go up the world over, from the Colosseum in Rome, Italy...
... to Cheonggyecheon Plaza in South Korea...
... the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France...
... Manila in the Philippines...
... Trafalgar Square in London, England...
... the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee...
... to Melksham, England, where Alex Goodwind has spent over ₤30,000 on his ever-growing collection of decorations.
Whether elaborate or minimalistic, these decorations do more than simply light up the darkness, they bring radiance to this special season.
Christmas Ladder Tree
