Christmas trees around the world

A lighted tree stands in front of the capital's iconic Brandenburg Gate. The modern Christmas tree has its roots - pun intended - in Germany, where it became a typical holiday decoration among Rhineland families in the 18th century.

Every year the City of New York places a giant Christmas tree in front of Rockefeller Center, a tradition that dates back to 1933. Trees have served as important symbols for everyone from the Ancient Egyptians to pagans.

The Russian capital's famous Red Square, an important center of political life during the Soviet Union, now plays host to an annual Christmas celebration. While such festivities were prohibited during the communist era, many Russians still found time to decorate so-called "New Year's trees."

There may not be actual snow, but the Mediterranean city-state's holiday spirit is on full display in Casino Square. Here, the legendary Monte Carlo Casino can be seen ushering in the holy day in high style.

A Christmas tree stands before the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in the Shinjuku district. Though not a national holiday in Japan, the secular celebration of Christmas, encouraged by the spread of Western culture, has become widespread.

A Christmas tree shines brightly in the central business district of the Ivory Coast's capital. There is an almost even split in this West African country between Christians and Muslims, who have generally been successful at coexisting.

Putting an environmentally conscious spin on an old tradition, this Christmas tree was constructed out of plastic bins and hampers. More than 80 percent of Mexicans are Catholics, although other Christian denominations have grown in numbers over the years.

This unique tree can be found in Byblos, north of the country's capital, Beirut. Lebanon allegedly has the largest percentage of Christians in the Middle East, although an official census has not been carried out since 1932.