The Christmas season burst into full swing in some of Latin America's largest cities. Saturday night, spectacular Christmas tree lighting ceremonies were held in Rio De Janeiro and Mexico City. Both cities are vying for their place in the Guinness Book of World Records.
In Rio, the world's largest floating Christmas tree was lit amidst a spectacular fireworks display. Despite light showers, thousands gathered along Rio's picturesque lake region to watch the illumination of the 85-metre floating tree.
Edinaldo Gaudito, local resident, said, "I come here every year, I love it. I enjoy this a lot and anxiously wait for this moment all year."
The tree was honored as the world's largest floating Christmas tree by the Guinness Book of World Records. It is equivalent in height to a twenty-nine story building. It has more than two million light bulbs and uses more than one-thousand kilowatts of electricity.
In Mexico's capital, the city was filled with revellers eager to see the word's largest artificial Christmas tree being lit. The towering cone-shaped structure, measures nearly 112 metres, looms over the main avenue in the company of Mexico City's few skyscrapers.
A representative from the Guinness Book of World Records was on hand to certify the record-breaking attempt.
David German Gil, local resident, said, "I came to see the Christmas tree, to see the World Record. It's the best, a marvel, something we haven't seen here in Mexico."
This is another record for Mexico, which already set records this year for the largest group kiss and the largest number of people dancing simultaneously in one place to Michael Jackson's "Thriller."
