World largest Christmas tree lights up

Fireworks light the world's biggest floating Christmas tree at the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, 02 December 2006, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Some 3 million lamps draw different figures in the tree.

Christmas Tree of Bradesco Seguros e Previdencia, The Biggest Floating Christmas Tree in the World, is Inaugurated in Rio De Janeiro

Event brought together thousands of people at the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon

Last update: 8:00 p.m. EST Nov. 29, 2008

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, Nov 29, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The inaugural event of the 13th consecutive edition of the Christmas Tree of Bradesco Seguros e Previdencia, the biggest floating Christmas tree in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records, brought together thousands of people this Saturday (November 29, 2008). Considered the third greatest event in the city of Rio de Janeiro, after Carnaval and New Year's Eve, the Tree brings something new for 2008 in the form of "A melody of peace for the Brazilian family." The spectacle of lights and colors has taken on a musical touch. An electronic carillon, imported from Italy and similar to the one used in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, has been installed within its structure to reproduce Christmas carols with bells played manually by professional bell-ringers. There are also fireworks scheduled for every Saturday.

The programming of the inaugural event, with a live television broadcast in real time by the Tree's hot site included a concert given by popular Brazilian artists such as singers Elba Ramalho, Joao Bosco, Roberta Sa and guitarist Turibio Santos, as well as the Choir of the Bradesco Foundation, made up of 112 young students. The American soprano Carol McDavit, who has been settled in Brazil for the past 20 years, also made an appearance.

Fireworks light the world's biggest floating Christmas tree at the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, 02 December 2006, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Some 3 million lamps draw different figures in the tree.

The project has become the largest event sponsored by a single private company in Brazil. This is the 13th edition of the Christmas Tree of Bradesco Seguros e Previdencia, which for the first time will have thirteen flashing sequences of different images to dazzle the public. At the top of the 85- meter Tree, the star is now accompanied by two angels representing peace. The 52 kilometers of lighted strands are to evoke the Christmas theme, and 1,600 flashing lights are to evoke twinkling stars.

Certification in the Guinness Book

The second certification in the Guinness Book of Records, as the "largest floating Christmas tree in the world," was obtained because of the height of 85 meters in 2007 and recorded in the recently published 2009 edition. With its launching in 1996, the Tree was 48 meters high and up until the 2006 edition, 82 meters. The first certification in the Guinness book was awarded in 1999, when this symbol of Christmas measured 76 meters.