Top 7 winter drinks from around the world
Winter is the perfect time to curl up in a warm blanket and enjoy drinks that bring coziness and holiday cheer. Here are seven winter drinks that are perfect for cold days
Elegant Christmas tree in Galeries Lafayette (Paris, France)
Many consider the New Year's beauty installed in Paris at Galeries Lafayette to be one of the most luxurious trees in the world. This splendid Christmas tree is located in the famous Parisian department store on Boulevard Haussmann. Preparation for the New Year's wonder begins almost a year before the event. A team of designers works on the decoration of the tree at Galeries Lafayette. The attire of the green beauty changes every year and is never repeated. Over time, the themes of the tree decoration have included a winter garden, parrot and deer puppets, Lego, Pierre the dove, a family of white bears, a giant bright pink cute monster, and others. The main theme of this Christmas will be the Arctic and everything associated with it. In 2023, French artist Lorenzo Papace worked on the tree decorations. The material he used was marsh-paper, with which meteorites, various celestial bodies were made, and cosmic space was formed.
Floating Christmas tree (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
In Brazil, the country's main tree, which has a distinctive feature, is set up in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Unlike other Christmas trees, it is a floating structure. This artificial tree, 82 meters tall and weighing 542 tons, consists of metal parts. The amazing New Year's tree shines brightly, shimmering with many lights. The tree in Brazil is erected on the water, on Lake Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas. The New Year and Christmas beauty towers over the Rodrigo lagoon, enchanting the residents and tourists of Rio de Janeiro. The giant tree decoration is done in traditional Brazilian style. The first floating tree was installed in 1995. Now such a tree is created annually on a special platform-boat, illuminated by 3.3 million lights. The Guinness Book of Records recognized it as the largest floating tree in the world. Every year, this unique festive tree gets a new outfit. In addition, thematic light shows are organized around the floating tree.
Unusual Christmas tree in Gubbio (Italy)
For the last 40 years, the Italian commune of Gubbio has been lighting up the most unusual Christmas tree in the world. Like the Brazilian floating tree, it was listed in the Guinness Book of Records in 1991. The height of this unique Christmas decoration is 750 meters, and the width of its base is 450 meters. What makes this structure unusual is that the light illumination in the shape of a Christmas tree is installed on the slope of Mount Ingino and consists of 300 powerful lights. For lighting the area, 8.5 kilometers of wires are used. Thus, medieval Italian Gubbio has become home to the world's largest Christmas tree located at the foot of Mount Ingino. Many tourists come to see this impressive figure, created using decorative illumination. The festive structure extends 650 meters along the slopes of the mountain and consists of thousands of colored lights and wires. The New Year's tree in Gubbio has long been a record holder among the largest and most luxurious Christmas beauties.
Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center (New York, USA)
Experts consider the festive tree in the USA, located near the headquarters of the world-famous Rockefeller Center in New York, to be the most famous Christmas tree in the world. The first small tree, 20 meters tall and 10 meters wide, was decorated in 1931 by builders of the center. They adorned the New Year's tree with a small number of garlands and toys. Since then, decorating and lighting the tree has been a tradition dating back to the time of the construction of Rockefeller Center. Currently, the number of lights on the green beauty exceeds 50,000, and its top is crowned with a 10-foot (3.05 meters)-diameter star from the Swarovski jewelry house. In 2023, a structure between 20 and 30 meters tall was set up in New York, adorned with a star from this jewelry company. The New Year and Christmas tree is surrounded by more than 8 kilometers of lights, transforming it on the eve of the holiday season. Many consider the tree at Rockefeller Center to be one of the Christmas wonders of the world. During the festive days, namely Christmas and New Year, it lights up 24 hours a day, and then it is sent to be used as lumber for homes for the poor and homeless.
Uncommon Christmas tree in Taipei (Taiwan)
The New Year and Christmas tree in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, stands in the middle of a special square, known as "Christmasland." It is a unique Christmas playground located in the densely populated Xinyi District. The height of this unusual LED tree is almost 36 meters. Starting a month before the holiday, a light show takes place every half hour after sunset. The tree in Taipei, located in front of the city hall, is considered the central element of the city. Although Christmas is not an official public holiday in Taiwan, this does not prevent locals and tourists from celebrating it with fun and grandeur. Another attraction in Taipei is Christmasland – a Christmas fair where you can buy luxurious decorations, try traditional dishes, and visit attractions.
Prague Christmas tree (Prague, Czech Republic)
In anticipation of the New Year and Christmas, a majestic green beauty appears in Prague. The main New Year's tree of the Czech capital is placed in the historical center of the city – in the Old Town Square. The magnificent New Year and Christmas beauty occupies a place of honor a few steps from the cathedral, near the bright Christmas markets. Traditionally, the festive tree for decorating the capital is brought from different regions of the Czech Republic. On average, the height of the New Year's tree reaches 22 meters. The process of decorating the green beauty takes four days, creating an atmosphere of holiday and magic. For its decoration, 30,000 colored bulbs are used, and the top is crowned with a huge star from the Swarovski jewelry house. The lights on the tree are lit annually on December 1. Around the green beauty, Christmas fairs offer visitors traditional treats and festive souvenirs.
Winter is the perfect time to curl up in a warm blanket and enjoy drinks that bring coziness and holiday cheer. Here are seven winter drinks that are perfect for cold days
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