Brazil's most famous Christmas tree has returned after a two-year hiatus to officially kick off the holiday season there.
Hundreds of thousands of locals and tourists flocked to see the lighting of the 70-meter tall tree, which is floating on a lagoon in Rio de Janeiro.
The ceremony also included a seven-minute fireworks display.
A lack of funding was said to have been the reason for its absence over the past two years, but this season, the tree will be lit until January 6th.
