The bigger picture [Brazil Christmas]

More than a million people are expected to make the journey to the Rodrigo de Freitas in Rio de Janeiro between now and 6 January to see the night sky lit up by a Christmas display that includes an 85m high, 542-tonne floating metal tree as tall as a 28-storey building. Built by Brazil's largest insurance company, Bradesco Seguros, it's based on the theme of the four seasons and supports a 105km rope of 3.3 million light bulbs. The sequence begins as lights recreate the falling of leaves and a falling snow effect turns the tree completely white. Spring arrives in the shape of colourful flowers, then the tree becomes yellow for summer before colourful balls return the display to Christmas again.