World's Most Fabulous Christmas Trees

One of the favorite Christmas trees for New Yorkers and visitors to the city for over eight decades (since 1933), the Rockefeller Center experience is unlike any other around the world. One of the best things about the tree is you don’t have to travel to see the live lighting ceremony. NBC usually broadcasts it live the Wednesday after Thanksgiving. The tree is normally a Norway spruce that stands 70 to 100 feet tall and is decorated with over 45,000 multicolored lights and a “Swarovski Star” that is almost 10 feet tall.

Every year the Galeries Lafayette puts up a truly monstrous (dauntingly large) Christmas tree. Some years they have breathtaking and intricate visual designs, and other years they turn the whole idea of a traditional tree on its head. In 2014 they displayed their tree upside down, hanging it from the ceiling. This landed them on the naughty list for sure.

In a time-honored tradition that dates back to 1923 and President Calvin Coolidge, every year we light the National Christmas Tree, which belongs to all of us. It’s a joy to visit The Ellipse in President's Park and browse through the trees representing the 50 states. While the weather is usually hit or miss, seeing the tree set against the White House at night is a stunning spectacle.

The Old Town Square in the city of Prague is stunning on a normal day. When they light the tree, it transforms the area into a magical blaze of lights, color and music. Stroll around and enjoy the festive atmosphere with some hot wine, and be sure to sample the amazing food offered throughout the market.

An annual gift from the people of Oslo, Norway, to the British people as a thank you for the support they received during World War II, the lovely Christmas tree stands as a tradition and symbol of the holiday spirit. The tree is a Norway spruce rising about 65-70 feet into the air and is decorated in Norwegian style with around 500 white lights. Come for the tree but stay for the Christmas carols; there are usually several groups performing on any given night.

Not to be outdone by anyone in the world, Rio de Janeiro unveiled what they say is the largest ever floating Christmas tree (don’t be fooled, it’s not really a tree) on the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. The hugely popular and festive lighting ceremony included a huge fireworks display and live music.

In every year since 1982, the tradition of displaying a Christmas tree and nativity scene at Saint Peter’s Square has officially become part of the Christmas season at the Vatican. Various European countries and regions offer the tree as a donation to the Pope, and it has become quite an honor to have your local tree on display in Vatican City. The tree in 2014 was a white fir from the Italian province of Fabrizia, Calabria. It had twin trunks (joined together), which made it very unique.

There are many Christmas trees to admire in the city of Rome. You can find a very tall and impressive tree in the Piazza Venezia that stands as high as some of the nearby buildings. However, my favorite tree in Rome can be found on the Spanish Steps overlooking the Piazza di Spagna. This perfectly styled tree can be enjoyed from locations all the way down Via Condotti.