in the southern hemisphere rio de janeiro considers christmas time a good time to wear sandals. papai noel, which is brazils version of santa clause, arrives in silk garments due to the heat. people adorn their houses with freshly picked flowers and may spend christmas sunbathing at the beach. needless to say, roasting chestnuts may win you puzzling looks amongst the locals. in spite of all this, the locals, or cariocas as they're called, not only boast but have also been recognized as having the world's largest floating christmas tree by the guinness book of world records.
