![A Christmas tree is lit in front of the St, Stephan Basilica in Budapest on Dec. 21, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/christmas-trees-holidays-world-photos-2015-02.gif?w=2400&quality=85)
By TIME Photo
![An artificial Christmas tree illuminates Puerta del Sol square in Madrid, on Nov. 29, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/christmas-trees-holidays-world-photos-2015-01.gif?w=2400&quality=75)
![A Christmas tree is lit in front of the St, Stephan Basilica in Budapest on Dec. 21, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/christmas-trees-holidays-world-photos-2015-02.gif?w=2400&quality=75)
![The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting on Dec. 2, 2015 in New York. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/christmas-trees-holidays-world-photos-2015-03.gif?w=2400&quality=75)
![A Christmas tree in Piazza Duomo on Dec. 13, 2015 in Milan.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/christmas-trees-holidays-world-photos-2015-05.gif?w=2400&quality=75)
![Fireworks explode over the floating Christmas tree at the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in Rio de Janeiro on Dec. 12, 2015. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/christmas-trees-holidays-world-photos-2015-06.gif?w=2400&quality=75)
![The Old Town Square and Christmas tree are illuminated at the Christmas market in Prague on Nov. 30, 2015. (Photo by Matej Divizna/Getty Images)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/christmas-trees-holidays-world-photos-2015-07.gif?w=2400&quality=75)
![A Christmas tree on display at a Paris department store on Dec. 22, 2015. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/christmas-trees-holidays-world-photos-2015-08.gif?w=2400&quality=75)
![ITALY-CHRISTMAS-HOLIDAY A light installation shaped as a christmas tree is displayed on Piazza Castello in Turin on Dec. 12, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/christmas-trees-holidays-world-photos-2015-11.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![A Christmas tree is illuminated in front of the al-Amin Mosque on Martyrs' Square in Beirut on Dec. 11, 2015. (Photo by Ratib Al Safadi/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/christmas-trees-holidays-world-photos-2015-09.gif?w=2400&quality=75)
![A Christmas tree at Syntagma Square in front of the Greek parliament in Athens on Dec. 15, 2015.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/christmas-trees-holidays-world-photos-2015-10.gif?w=2400&quality=75)
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