Standing at 85 meters (279 feet) high and weighting 530 tons (481 metric ton), it's the second time that this Christmas tree has made it into the record breaking book.

The event sponsors, Bradesco Seguros e Previdencia, said holding a Guinness record is a great "responsibility."

Decorated with angels and Christmas bells, the tree has been entertaining audiences for 13 consecutive years.

Every year since 1996, people gather around the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon, right in the middle of the city, to see what has become the third largest event in the city, after the carnival and the fireworks at Copacabana beach during the new year's celebration.

This year the spectacle of light and color also included music and fireworks.

A sound system similar to the one used at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican was imported from Italy and installed inside the Christmas tree.

Church bells and Christmas songs will be played from it every night.

Every Saturday fireworks will also be launched from the sides and top of the tree.

The opening of Saturday night's event was delayed and a concert featuring the Brazilian Symphonic Orchestra was canceled due to persisting rain in Rio.

But that didn't stop the audience enjoying the night in which artists like singer songwriter Joao Bosco and American soprano Carol McDavit performed.

The Christmas tree will remain in the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon until the 6th of January, the day of the Epiphany holiday.