20th Bradesco Seguros Christmas Tree: "Christmas of Renewal"

RIO DE JANEIRO , Dec. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The — the city's third largest event after Carnaval and New Year's — was inaugurated last Saturday night, December 12th , in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil , with a major fireworks display, synchronized with special lighting effects, bringing together thousands of people on the shores of the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon to see the lighting of the 20th consecutive edition of this Christmas icon.  

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An international phenomenon that has attracted worldwide attention since 1996 with the magic of Christmas and its astonishing scenery for each year, the was awarded a certificate as the "world's largest floating Christmas tree" by the in 2007. Until January 6th , the Feast of the Epiphany, the will be lit every day at sunset. 

With the theme of " ," the scenery provides a reflection on renewal throughout the cycle of life. The spectacle of light and sound, consisting of three phases, begins with emerging from a blue backdrop, representing water as the element of renewal.  

As night falls, stars of varying sizes and intensity appear as the golden color shifts towards shades of blue, giving rise to an image of a MAP OF THE WORLD, in reference to the coming together of nations that will occur  at the . The shining star then illuminates the city of Rio de Janeiro , host of the upcoming Olympic and Para-Olympic Games, the planet's most important sporting events, symbolic of world brotherhood.  

At this point, the radiance assumes the shape of a traditional . Decked with grand globes, gilded ornaments and wheat grass, this resplendent yuletide symbol calls to mind the coming together of families and the desire for a better world.

The weighs 350 tons and stands 53 meters tall, the equivalent of a 17-storey building.  To illuminate the mega-structure, 2.5 million miniature bulbs have been installed, along with 105 kilometers of rope lights,  25 kilometers of tubing, 1,700 strobes and 168 LED reflectors, as well as six generators on barges. Nearly 1,500 staff are involved in the project.  

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