the giant floating christmas tree of lagoa is now one of the biggest events in rio de janeiro's calendar, as people from everywhere come to greet the festivities with their children around the lagoa, with many renting paddleboats swans to take a closer look on the water. 

the first week of december also opens the month-long festival of the nativity (festival de presépios). 

this christmas festival is an impressive exhibition of life-size nativity sculptures and scenes across various parts of rio de janeiro. these sculptures and representations are unique works produced by renowned brazilian artists, and have received much international media attention in the past.