As Christmas draws near, people around the world are preparing for the holiday season. Kicking off the festivities was the opening of one of Europe's best known Christmas markets in Germany. Meanwhile in Brazil, the lights on the world's largest floating Christmas tree were switched on.

As Christmas draws near, people around the world are preparing for the holiday season. Kicking off the festivities was the opening of one of Europe's best known Christmas markets in Germany. [File Photo]

A 16-year-old angel opened one of Europe's best known Christmas markets in the southern German town of Nuremberg on Friday night. Thousands gathered there buying and selling everything from grilled sausages to wooden toys, sweets and cakes.

The traditional "Christkindlesmarkt" starts on the eve of the first weekend of Advent, marking the start of the festive season.

The smell of mulled wine, or Gluehwein and the famous Nuremberg bratwursts filled the air in the town's main square, as shoppers from all over the world, bought gifts for their loved ones.

Martin Petzer, Christmas Mardet Visitor, said, "You can get everything here. There is nothing better if you like Christmas markets."

As Christmas draws near, people around the world are preparing for the holiday season. Kicking off the festivities was the opening of one of Europe's best known Christmas markets in Germany. [File Photo]

Doris, Christmas Market Visitor, said, "I love it! I love it, I don't want to get back to the States. I want to stay here. I like it a lot, we're enjoying it."

The annual market ends on Christmas Eve, which is when Germans traditionally celebrate the holiday.

Over in Brazil, the festive cheer has gripped Rio de Janeiro as the lights on the world's largest floating Christmas tree came alive on Saturday. This year, the gigantic 85-metre high metal structure, weighing more than 500 tonnes, was wrapped up in over three million bulbs.

"Lovely, lovely, lovely. I had never seen a tree as beautiful as the one I saw today. I'm 58 years old, and it's the most beautiful thing I've seen, the most beautiful thing."

The Christmas tree was first erected in 1996. The lights switching on ceremony is now Rio's third biggest tourist event after the Carnival festivities and New Year's Eve on Copacabana beach.

More than a million people are expected to view the structure before the lights are turned off on Three Kings' Day on January 6.