This “Back to the Future”-like machine is the most extra way to light a Christmas tree

Deck the halls with boughs of holly. Or, deck them out with the most elaborate contraption you’ve ever seen, something straight out of Doc Brown’s workshop. Oh, and do it all in the name of a Guinness World Record-worthy tree lighting. At least, that’s one Latvian company’s way of doing things. Watch as this record-breaking Rube Goldberg machine lights a Christmas tree up, and we can guarantee that you’ll be watching in awe.

First of all, let us explain what a Rube Goldberg machine is, other than something that looks exactly like the beginning of Back to the Future. Basically, Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist whose pictures often featured elaborate, wacky inventions. His name has become synonymous with these complicated, delightful contraptions (In fact, he’s the only person whose name is in the Merriam Webster Dictionary as an adjective).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBOqfLVCDv8?feature=oembed

Impressive, right? We’re not sure it beats the festive brilliance of the one that lit the Christmas tree, though. Actually, we know it doesn’t. You see, the one constructed for the Riga tree lighting is the largest Rube Goldberg machine in the world.

Built by Latvian e-commerce company Scandiweb, this machine uses 412 individual parts. It also took two months to build, which is bonkers. It’ll put you to shame the next time you simply flip a switch to turn holiday lights on, that’s for sure.

The tree itself might be more traditional than the means of lighting it, but it definitely makes us think of non-traditional trees. Oh, and general magical, holiday things. We know everyone is busy this season, but sometimes you have to stop and feast your eyes on a ridiculous and super cool means of lighting a tree. If nothing else, distract your friends and fat with it while you low key wrap their gifts last min. They’ll be so mesmerized, they won’t even notice.

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