ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> <br />STORY: The holiday season officially begins in Rio de Janeiro, with the lighting of the world's largest floating Christmas tree.<br/> <br />More than 100,000 people flocked to the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon to join the festivities, which included a fireworks display.<br/> <br />Standing at 85 metres (279 feet), the tree was decorated in themes depicting water, air, forests, humanity and Christmas.<br/> <br />The 542-tonne tree lit up with 3.1 million lights.<br/> <br />Figures of dolphins, seahorses and fish represented water.<br/> <br />The colors of sunset, and birds, for air.<br/> <br />Butterflies, macaws and monkeys, for forests.<br/> <br />People linking hands symbolised humanity.<br/> <br />The Christmas tree was first erected in 1996 and its annual lighting became Rio's third biggest tourist event after Carnival festivities and New Year's Eve on Copacabana beach.
