People skate past a Christmas tree on an ice-rink at Somerset House in London, Britain, December 12, 2015. The humble Christmas tree has a rich history, from evergreen trees used to symbolise eternal life in Ancient Egypt to tree worship among pagan Europeans. The modern version has its origins in Germany, where the song “O Tannenbaum” is still a festive favourite. Today the traditional tree with lights and decorations appears in cities including Washington, Moscow and Beirut. Alternative constructions range from recycled rubbish in Mexico City to old window frames in Rakvere, Estonia. Whatever the shape or size, the message is the same: Merry Christmas. (Photo by Neil Hall/Reuters)





A couple hugs while standing near a Christmas tree made out of plastic bins and plastic hampers outside the Museum of History in Monterrey, Mexico, December 4, 2015. (Photo by Daniel Becerril/Reuters)





People visit Christmas festivities amongst Supertrees structures at the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, December 14, 2015. (Photo by Edgar Su/Reuters)





Christmas trees frame the Monte Carlo Casino as part of holiday season decorations in Monaco, December 10, 2015. (Photo by Eric Gaillard/Reuters)





Christmas tree is seen in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (2nd R) at Tokyo's Shinjuku business district, Japan, December 6, 2015. (Photo by Yuya Shino/Reuters)





Brussels' Grand Place is illuminated during a light show as part of “Winter Wonders” festivities in central Brussels, Belgium December 7, 2015. (Photo by Yves Herman/Reuters)





Young women walk past a Christmas tree in central Moscow, Russia, December 14, 2015. (Photo by Maxim Shemetov/Reuters)





People skate near a Christmas tree in Red Square in Moscow, Russia, December 10, 2015. (Photo by Maxim Zmeyev/Reuters)





Christmas holiday lights hang from trees in the ancient quarter of Bab-Sharqi in Damascus, Syria, December 15, 2015. (Photo by Omar Sanadiki/Reuters)





A Christmas tree stands in Byblos, north of Beirut, Lebanon, November 25, 2015. (Photo by Mohamed Azakir/Reuters)





A Christmas tree designed by Lebanese designer Elie Saab is seen in front of al Amin mosque in Beirut, Lebanon, December 12, 2015. (Photo by Jamal Saidi/Reuters)





A Christmas tree is seen through ancient ruins in downtown Rome, Italy, December 10, 2015. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)





An illuminated Christmas tree is pictured in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, December 10, 2015. (Photo by Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)





A Christmas tree is illuminated as the traditional Christmas market opens at the Old Town Square in Prague, Czech Republic, November 28, 2015. (Photo by David W. Cerny/Reuters)





A Christmas tree is seen at a roundabout in Victoria Island district in Lagos, Nigeria, December 9, 2015. (Photo by Akintunde Akinleye/Reuters)





Residents gather in front of a Christmas tree at a mall in Manila, Philippines, December 4, 2015. (Photo by Janis Alano/Reuters)





A Christmas tree is pictured at Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, December 15, 2015. (Photo by Sergio Moraes/Reuters)





Holiday lights shine on the 83rd Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, at Rockefeller Center in the Manhattan borough of New York, United States, December 2, 2015. (Photo by Lucas Jackson/Reuters)





Cars drive on a street illuminated by Christmas lights in Tbilisi, Georgia, December 14, 2015. (Photo by David Mdzinarishvili/Reuters)





An illuminated Christmas tree stands in Plateau, the central business district of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, December 16, 2015. (Photo by Luc Gnago/Reuters)





The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree stands after the lighting ceremony on Capitol Hill in Washington, United States, December 2, 2015. (Photo by Joshua Roberts/Reuters)





An illuminated Christmas tree is displayed on central Syntagma square as the parliament building is seen in the background in Athens, Greece, December 4, 2015. (Photo by Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters)





A Christmas tree stands in Juan Pablo II square in Managua, Nicaragua, December 14, 2015. (Photo by Oswaldo Rivas/Reuters)





Christmas decorations are seen in front of the Cathedral of Lima, in downtown Lima, Peru, December 7, 2015. (Photo by Mariana Bazo/Reuters)





A Christmas tree stands in the Park Simon Bolivar in Bogota, Colombia, December 7, 2015. (Photo by John Vizcaino/Reuters)





A Christmas tree stands in front of the Palacio Nacional in Zocalo Square, downtown Mexico City, Mexico, December 10, 2015. (Photo by Henry Romero/Reuters)





A Christmas tree is seen after its lights were switched on in Sao Paulo, Brazil, December 9, 2015. (Photo by Paulo Whitaker/Reuters)





A Christmas tree made of 121 old wooden-framed, coloured windows, constructed by local carpentry students is seen in Rakvere, Estonia, November 29, 2015. (Photo by Ints Kalnins/Reuters)