Seven of the most amazing Christmas trees from around the world

Part of Bitesize Topical

Christmas trees have been a big part of how many celebrate the festive period since 1848.

BBC Bitesize takes a look at this year's most amazing Christmas trees from around the world.

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1. Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, New York

Rockefeller Center Christmas tree illuminated with thousands of colorful lights at night, surrounded by skyscrapers in New York City
The countdown to Christmas has begun

The very first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting ceremony happened in NY in 1933, which, for some, is seen as the beginning of this tree tradition.

The first Rockefeller Christmas tree went up in 1931. Construction workers put money together to buy a tree to put up on the site which was then decorated by handmade garlands from the worker's families.

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2. Gubbio's World Record Christmas Tree, Italy

World’s largest Christmas tree in display made of colourful lights on Mount Ingino overlooking the town of Gubbio, Italy, at dusk.
Named world's largest Christmas tree in 1991

In Italy, on the slopes of the Mount Ingino which overlooks the town of Gubbio, a light show appears like no other.

This tradition of lighting up the mountain has been happening since 1981. It's designed so that the star is with the basilica of the saint patron St. Ubaldo which lives on top.

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3. Trafalgar Square Christmas tree, London

Tall Christmas tree decorated with white lights in Trafalgar Square, London, with historic buildings and a crowd gathered at night.
A wartime tradition

Since 1947, a Christmas tree has been felled in a forest outside Oslo, Norway and travelled to London and been put up in Trafalgar Square.

During World War Two the Norwegian royal family and government-in-exile fled to Britain and a lot of Norway's resistance was built here. This tradition is a token of gratitude from Norway to honour the alliance between the two countries during WW2.

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4. Floating Christmas tree in Rio de Janeiro

Floating Christmas tree illuminated with blue and purple lights during a fireworks display over water in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Feliz Natal!

In Brazil, you can find an 80 metre floating Christmas tree in the city of Rio de Janeiro. This buoyant attraction can be found in Botafogo Cove where the famous Sugarloaf mountain is set behind it.

The structure uses more than 2.3 million LED lights and is installed 100 meters from the shoreline of Botafogo beach.

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5. Fishing creel Christmas tree, Scotland

Christmas tree made from stacked illuminated fishing creels glowing in blue and green, topped with a bright star, displayed outdoors at night with two people holding matching lighted decorations.
That might be fishing for a compliment here

In a small fishing village in the Scottish Highlands, the people of Ullapool count down to Christmas by building an eye-catching tree from hundreds of fishing creels.

They've been making the tree for the last 10 years, using loaf-shaped pots and netting that is usually used for catching shellfish, but for this time of year they turn them into a wonderous winter display.

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6. The Vilnius Christmas tree, Lithuania

Christmas tree decorated with golden lights in Cathedral Square, Vilnius, Lithuania, with the illuminated Bell Tower and festive market at night.
Vilnius has been crowned the Official Christmas Capital of Europe 2025

The city of Vilnius is known for their amazing decorations and magical themes during Christmas.

It started in 2015, and Lithuanian capital's Christmas trees have been recognised globally throughout the years to be one of the most beautiful in the world.

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7. A very Parisian Christmas tree

Giant Christmas tree installation wrapped in red and patterned ribbons under the ornate glass dome of Galeries Lafayette in Paris, surrounded by festive decorations and shoppers
Designed to pay tribute to the 1925 Decorative Arts exhibition

The Galeries Lafayette Paris Haussmann have been putting up Christmas trees since 1976.

This year the department store entrusted their vision to the illustrator Jeanne Detallante. The artist dived into the store's history and dedicated the design to the 1925 Decorative Arts exhibition and the peak of La Maîtrise.

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So how did Christmas trees become so popular?

Victorian illustration of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert with their children gathered around a decorated Christmas tree, framed by ornate festive designs.
A very royal Christmas

A big rise in its popularity was caused by an illustration of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and their family around a Christmas tree that appeared in the publication of the Illustrated London News.

Although brought to the UK years earlier by Queen Charlotte, this publication influenced both UK and US families to have Christmas trees in their home.

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Published in December 2025

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