Christmas Trees Around the World

A Christmas tree which has been decked out with US$11 million U.S. (euro14.3 million) worth of gold and precious stones, stands at the lobby of the Emirates Palace hotel, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday Dec. 16, 2010. The hotel's general m — AP Photo/Hussein Malla

A Christmas tree, decked out with $11 million in gold and precious stones, stands at the lobby of the Emirates Palace hotel, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday Dec. 16, 2010. The hotel's general manager, Hans Olbertz, was quoted in local newspapers Thursday as saying the 43-footfaux fir has 131 ornaments that include gold and precious stones including diamonds and sapphires. The tree has become the latest extravagance at the Emirates Palace hotel, which boasts its own marina, heliport and a vending machine that pops out small gold bars.

Golden necklaces are seen among the other decorations adorning a Christmas tree which has been decked out with dollars 11 million U.S. (14.3 million euro) worth of gold, at the Emirates Palace hotel, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday Dec. 16 — AP Photo/Hussein Malla

Golden necklaces are seen among the other decorations adorning an $11 million Christmas tree at the Emirates Palace hotel, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday Dec. 16, 2010.

The National Christmas Tree is pictured after it was lit by President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and daughters Malia and Sasha Obama at the Ellipse across from the White House in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010.

A Christmas tree is pictured in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is lit on November 30, 2010 in New York. Originally from Mahopac, New York, the 12-ton, 74-foot Norway Spruce is adorned with 30,000 environmentally friendly LED lights on more than five miles of electrical wire, and — STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is lit on Nov. 30, 2010, in New York. Originally from Mahopac, N.Y., the 12-ton, 74-foot Norway Spruce is adorned with 30,000 environmentally friendly LED lights on more than five miles of electrical wire and topped with a Swarovski crystal star.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree stands lit during the 78th annual lighting ceremony Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010, in New York.

: A security guard stands in front of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree after the annual lighting ceremony November 30, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images) — Chris Hondros/Getty Images

A security guard stands in front of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree after the annual lighting ceremony Nov. 30, 2010, in New York.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree stands lit during the 78th annual lighting ceremony Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010 in New York.

A giant Christmas tree during the opening of the Christmas market in Strasbourg, France, on Nov. 27, 2010.

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A giant decorated Christmas tree stands next to Berlin's Brandenburg Gate for the Christmas season on Nov. 30, 2010.

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The trees on Berlin's Unter der Linden boulevard are lit up for the Christmas season on Nov. 30, 2010.

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Strasbourg cathedral and a snow-covered giant Christmas tree are shown on Nov. 29, 2010, in Strasbourg, eastern France.

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A Christmas tree, claimed to be the tallest in the world by the organizers, is pictured in the Old Town of Stockholm, Sweden, for a lighting test ceremony on Nov. 27, 2010.

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A Christmas tree illuminates in Old Town Square in Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010.

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Chinese man walks past a Christmas tree at a department store in Shanghai, China, December 15, 2008.(Imaginechina via AP Images) — Imaginechina via AP Images

A Chinese man walks past a Christmas tree at a department store in Shanghai, China, Dec. 15, 2008.

AP Photo/The Cincinnati Enquirer, Joseph Fuqua II

Spectators watch fireworks over the newly lit Norwood Spruce Christmas tree during ceremonies for the Annual Tree Lighting at Fountain Square on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010, in downtown Cincinnati.

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A 100-metre tall Christmas tree is illuminated on the wall of Tokyo's Akasaka Grand Prince Hotel on Nov. 4, 2010, for the upcoming seasonal holidays.

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Dresden's landmark the Church of Our Lady can be seen behind a Christmas tree and a Christmas pyramid after the opening of the 576th Striezelmarkt on Nov. 25, 2010 in Dresden, eastern Germany.

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JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN/AFP/Getty Images

A Christmas tree is seen at the Christmas market near the railway station in Metz, eastern France, on Nov. 22, 2010.

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Fireworks explode over the Michigan Capitol and the official state Christmas tree following a ceremony lighting the tree, Friday, Nov. 19, 2010, in Lansing, Mich.

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A Christmas tree made entirely of recycled bicycles is unveiled on Nov. 19, 2010, in Sydney, Australia.

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People view a fibre-optic lit Christmas tree decoration in front of an office building in Beijing on Nov. 14, 2010.

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People stand at a Christmas market stall in front of a Christmas tree in the city center of Dortmund, western Germany, Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010.

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The Christmas tree at the Rotuses square in Kaunas, Lithuania, Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010.

A man walks past an illuminated Christmas tree in Madrid Wednesday Dec. 15, 2010.