processions and nativity scenes mark christmas in rio de janeiro - the most important religious yearly celebration in rio de janeiro and brazil.

with over 4 million Christians of all stripes, and falling during the height of the southern hemisphere's summer, the christmas holidays in rio de janeiro are one of the highlights of the civic social calendar.

the season in rio officially starts the first week of december, on the moment the giant lagoa christmas tree lights up - the árvore de natal is the biggest floating christmas lights display in the world.