What this 13-foot-tall tree lacks in stature it makes up for in history (the tradition goes back more than 30 years) and workmanship: Preparation starts in July, when volunteers begin folding the 500-plus origami ornaments into shapes inspired by present and past exhibits.
KAUNAS, LITHUANIA
This tree may be green, but it’s no ordinary spruce. The tree in Kaunas, Lithuania, is made of more than 40,000 recycled plastic bottles.
LISBON, PORTUGAL
In lieu of decorations this 90-foot-tall techie tree (Europe's tallest five years running) uses real-time video projections of passersby and images of bells and angels.
MOUNT INGINO, ITALY
Nearly 3,000 lights are strung together to form a Christmas tree shape on the slopes of Mount Ingino, just outside of Gubbio, Italy. The giant tannenbaummeasures nearly 2,130 feet tall.
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
The view of Rio de Janeiro’s harbor alone is usually enough to draw in a crowd, but during the holiday season it’s the 280-foot-tall floating tree that commands attention. The tree—as tall as a 28-story building—floats in the middle of the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. During a light show, the tree's design changes to represent the four seasons: Simulated falling leaves signify autumn, stark white stands in for winter, flowers illuminate for spring, and bright yellow portrays a sunny summer day.
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL
It's hard to ignore this 190-foot-tall tree in Sao Paulo's Ibirapuero Park: A total of 500 bulbs and 12,000 feet of LED lighting give the holiday icon a futuristic glow.
TOKYO, JAPAN
This insanely decadent Christmas tree took 10 craftsmen two months to complete—and it's no wonder. The eight-foot-tall revolving tree is made of 40 kilograms of pure gold and is decorated with the silhouettes of 50 popular Disney characters. Jeweler Ginza Tanaka will sell it to you for $4.2 million. Not in your budget? A 10-inch version has a $240,000 price tag.
VENICE, ITALY
No surprise here: Venice is home to the largest glass Christmas tree in the world. Internationally renowned glassblower Simone Cenedese, known for his Murano glass sculptures and installations, designed the 24-foot-tall tree with 1,000 multicolored tubes.
One of Italy's most famous and most loved Christmas carols is Tu scendi dalle stelle, (You Come Down from the Stars), written by the Neapolitan priest Sant'Alfonso Maria de Liguori in 1754. Years later, de Liguori wrote new lyrics for the same tune, but this time in the Neapolitan dialect, naming the song Quanno nascette Ninno, (When the Child was Born). de Liguori was staying at the Convent of the Consolation, Celiceto, Foggia in 1744 when he wrote the song.
In this video, Andrea Bocelli gives his rendition of the song, though it is traditionally performed with the zampogna, the Italian bagpipe.
There have been numerous translations of Tu scendi dalle stelle into English, here is one based on the language of the King James Bible, and another in modern English.
(Italian Version) Tu scendi dalle stelle, o Re del Cielo, e vieni in una grotta al freddo e al gelo, e vieni in una grotta al freddo e al gelo. O Bambino mio divino, io ti vedo qui a tremar, o Dio beato! Ah, quanto ti costò l’avermi amato! Ah, quanto ti costò l’avermi amato!
A te che sei del mondo il Creatore, mancano panni e fuoco, o mio Signore, mancano panni e fuoco, o mio Signore. Caro eletto pargoletto, quanto questa povertà più m’innamora, giacché ti fece amor povero ancora! Giacché ti fece amor povero ancora!
(King James Version)
From starry skies descending,
Thou comest, glorious King,
A manger low Thy bed,
In winter's icy sting;
O my dearest Child most holy,
Shudd'ring, trembling in the cold!
Great God, Thou lovest me!
What suff'ring Thou didst bear,
That I near Thee might be!
Thou art the world's Creator,
God's own and true Word,
Yet here no robe, no fire
For Thee, Divine Lord.
Dearest, fairest, sweetest Infant,
Dire this state of poverty.
The more I care for Thee,
Since Thou, o Love Divine,
Will'st now so poor to be.
(Modern English Version) You come down from the stars Oh King of Heavens, And you come in a cave In the cold, in the frost. And you come in a cave In the cold, in the frost. Oh my Divine Baby I see you trembling here, Oh Blessed God, Ah, how much it cost you, Your loving me. Ah, how much it cost you, Your loving me.
For you, who are of all the world The creator, No robes and fire, Oh my Lord. No robes and fire, Oh my Lord. Dear chosen one, little infant This dire poverty, Makes me love you more Since Love made you Poor now. Since Love made you Poor now.
The Italian version of Christmas cake is the traditional panettone,it is so ridiculously delicious. It is believed to have originated in Milano in around the 15th Century, and typically consists of a light, well-raised dough, raisins, and candied citrus peel.
There are many tales about the origin of the pannetone, but this is my favourite version, compiled from the different snippets I have read.
There was once a baker named Toni, who lived in Milano during the 15th Century. Toni had a daughter, Adalgisa, who was very beautiful. A handsome young man named Ughetto della Tela fell in love with her, but he came from a rich family and knew that they would disapprove of his match with a commoner. He was a hawk breeder in the court of Duke Ludovico Maria Sforza, and in the dark of night he would sneak out to meet Adalgisa, when she was mixing bread in Toni's bakery. However, a new rival bakery opened and Toni fell sick, and his daughter had to run the bakery by herself.
Ughetto came to Adalgisa's aid, selling some of his hawks to buy butter to add to the bread, as she could not afford it. As soon as the butter was added, everyone flocked to their bakery, and the customers increased still with the addition of sugar. They were doing so well, Ughetto began to add delicious candied citrus peel and eggs to the bread, and raisins during the festive Christmas season. Toni's once tiny and floundering bakery expanded and became famous throughout Milano. Ughetto and Adalgisa married and their new bread was spread throughout Italy, and became a traditional Christmas dessert.
