Christmas trees from around the world...

As we put the finishing touches on our own Christmas preparations, I thought a peek at some international Christmas trees of 2008 would be fun. (Photos are from the NY Daily News site.)


Starting with our own National Christmas tree...

© Getty Images

The National Christmas Tree is a living tree located on the Ellipse near the White House. It is decorated and lit as part of a three-week holiday celebration. The design is unique each year.

Credits: Duenas/Getty
Bolivar square in Bogota, Columbia.

Credits: Omar/AP

Workers lower a star atop a giant Christmas tree near the Mohammad al-Amin Mosque in Beirut, Lebanon.

Credits: Malukas/Getty

Illumination in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Credits: Grant/AP

London's tree in Trafalgar Square is a gift from Norway, a tradition dating back to 1947.

Credits: Kostyukov/Getty

Some trees have been the backdrops for more political activities. In Moscow, the members of the Russian Communist party hold a rally to commemorate the date the Soviet or "Stalin" constitution of the Soviet Union was adopted in 1936.

Credits: Directo/Getty

Workers build a giant tree in the northern Philippines, where the Christmas season begins on December 16 with dawn masses and ends on the first week of January.

Credits: Cizek/Getty

Prague's tree sits in front of the Tyn Church at the Old Town Square.

Credits: Coffrini/Getty

The Swiss light their tree in Zurich in style.

Credits: DeCrow/AP

New York City's Rockefeller Center Christmas during the tree lighting ceremony.

Credits: Wong/Getty
The official White House Christmas tree stands in the Blue Room.

The official White House Christmas Tree is an 18 ½-foot tall Fraser fir presented by River Ridge Tree Farms in Crumpler, North Carolina. The tree is decorated with 369 ornaments hand-decorated by artists from around the country. Each ornament was specially designed to characterize the unique, patriotic spirit of the artist’s state, district, or territory.