Christmas Day around the world
December 25 marks Christmas Day around the world, and from Australia to South Africa people gathered to celebrate the holiday.
In this photo, a tourist sits on an inflatable seat while wearing a Christmas hat and celebrating Christmas Day at Sydney’s Bondi Beach in Australia, December 25, 2016.
Australia
Tourists take a selfie as they wear Christmas hats and celebrate Christmas Day at Sydney’s Bondi Beach in Australia, December 25, 2016.
Australia
German tourists Mimi Wiebeling (L) and Pauline Lapetite carry surfboards as they walk into the surf wearing Christmas hats at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Christmas Day in Australia, December 25, 2016.
Britain
Swimmers prepare to start the annual Christmas day race in the Serpentine lake in Hyde Park in London, Britain, December 25, 2016.
Britain
Tim Sutton poses for a photograph as he jumps into the pool for a Christmas Day swim at Brockwell Lido on December 25, 2016 in London, England.
Britain
Prince George, the son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, sucks a sweet as he leaves following the morning Christmas Day service at St Mark’s Church in Englefield, near Bucklebury in southern England, Britain, December 25, 2016.
Britain
Natalie Cane and her son Joshua sit with volunteer John Sullivan dressed as Santa during a Christmas Dinner event for older people at Hammersmith and Fulham Town Hall in London, Britain December 25, 2016.
Britain
Sophie, Countess of Wessex (L), Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh attend a Christmas Day church service at Sandringham on December 25, 2016 in King’s Lynn, England.
Britain
A man wearing a Santa hat enjoys a Christmas Day swim at Brockwell Lido on December 25, 2016 in London, England.
Syria
Christians attend a Christmas mass at the Saint Elias Catholic cathedral in Aleppo’s Old City, which was heavily damaged during the five-year war in Syria, on December 25, 2016.
Syria
Christian clerics lead a mass at the Saint Elias Cathedral in Aleppo’s Old City on December 25, 2016.
Bethlehem
Visitors wait to get inside the cave, where Virgin Mary is believed to have given birth to Jesus, on Christmas inside the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem December 25, 2016.
Bethlehem
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa prays in the Grotto during a Christmas midnight mass at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, December 25, 2016.
Bethlehem
A visitor enters the Church of the Nativity on Christmas in the West Bank town of Bethlehem December 25, 2016. REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma
Hong Kong
A Filipino domestic helper is helped by her friends to dress up as a Christmas tree made with recycled materials and leaves as they hold a costume contest to celebrate the festival season in Hong Kong, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016.
Nepal
Christians wearing Santa costumes celebrate Christmas in a slum area by handing out sweets on December 25, 2016 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Vatican City
Pope Francis arrives to leads “Urbi et Orbi” (to the city and the world) message from the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican December 25, 2016.
Mali
In this photo taken Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, Anthero Afeku, a Catholic priest , center, performs a communion mass to celebrate Christmas at Philippe Amore Catholic Church in Goa, Mali.
Just four years ago strict Islamic law was in force in this town, but Christians have returned to rebuild their congregation that fled the jihadist occupation.
New York
People dressed as Stormtroopers from Star Wars Rogue One walk in Times Square on Christmas Day in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., December 25, 2016.
Hawaii
A Santa Claus is perched upon the sand as women in elf hats read on Waikiki Beach on Christmas Day in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. December 25, 2016.
Hawaii
An ornament of Santa Claus in a hula skirt and playing a ukulele sits atop a Christmas tree on Waikiki Beach on Christmas Day in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. December 25, 2016.
South Africa
Children play hula-hoop after gifts were distributed by a charity on Christmas morning to residents in the Joe Slovo squatter settlement near Johannesburg, Sunday Dec. 25, 2016.
South Africa
A man dressed as Santa working for a charity distributes gifts to children on Christmas morning to residents in the Joe Slovo squatter settlement near Johannesburg, Sunday Dec. 25, 2016.
The gifts are donated by the “Children of Fire” charity which primarily aims to assists burn victims from across Africa.
India
Children wearing Santa Claus caps pray inside a church during Christmas celebrations in Aizawl, capital of northeastern state of Mizoram, India, December 25, 2016.
India
Indian Christians light candles on Christmas Day outside a church in Siliguri on December 25, 2016.
Although Indian Christians make up a mere two percent of the country’s billion plus population, Christmas has become a popular festival in the Indian calendar.
Taiwan
People take selfies and celebrate Christmas outside the Taipei 101 building on December 25, 2016 in Taipei, Taiwan.
China
An elderly villager reads the Bible ahead of a Christmas eve mass at a Catholic church on the outskirts of Taiyuan, North China’s Shanxi province, December 24, 2016. Picture taken on December 24, 2016.
Pakistan
A girl rides on a makeshift merry go round on Christmas Day in Islamabad, Pakistan, December 25, 2016.
Pakistan
A woman attends a mass on Christmas Day at the St. John Cathedral Church in Peshawar, Pakistan, December 25, 2016.
Pakistan
Pakistani Christians pass through a security gate before a Christmas service at a church in Lahore on December 25, 2016.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lankans walk past a Christmas tree displayed in Colombo on December 25, 2016.
Sri Lanka surpassed the world record for the tallest artificial Christmas tree despite building delays forcing organisers to prune the structure by almost half, an official said.
Cricket legend Arjuna Ranatunga initiated plans to build the record-breaking tree in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo, but ran into opposition from the Catholic church which said the money would be better spent on charity.
Read more here.
Iceland
Tourists wearing Santa hats take a selfie as geysers discharge water at Geysir, in Iceland December 25, 2016.
Taiwan
TAIPEI, TAIWAN - DECEMBER 25: Crowds of people celebrate Christmas at the Christmasland in New Taipei City on December 25, 2016 in Taipei, Taiwan.
Iraq
U.S. soldiers enjoy a Christmas dinner at an army base in Karamless town, east of Mosul, December 25, 2016.
Iraq
An Iraqi odontology student dressed in a Santa Claus outfit poses for a picture with a baby in the Iraqi holy Shiite city of Najaf on December 25, 2016.
Iraq
Iraqi Christians pray during a mass on Christmas at an Orthodox church in the town of Bashiqa, east of Mosul, Iraq December 25, 2016.
Iraq
Iraqi Christians attend a mass on Christmas at St. Joseph Chaldean church in Baghdad, Iraq December 25, 2016.
Iraq
An Iraqi odontology student dressed in a Santa Claus outfit distribute gifts to impoverished children outside their shanty home in the Iraqi holy Shiite city of Najaf on December 25, 2016.
Iraq
Christians take a selfie during a mass on Christmas at Mar George Chaldean Church in Baghdad, Iraq December 25, 2016.
Iraq
Iraqi children hold gifts outside their family’s shanty home in the Iraqi holy Shiite city of Najaf as an Iraqi odontology student dressed in a Santa Claus outfit distributes gifts to impoverished children on December 25, 2016.
Iraq
Iraqi Christians attend a mass on Christmas at an Orthodox church in the town of Bashiqa, east of Mosul, Iraq, December 25, 2016.
Iraq
Christians pray during a mass on Christmas at Mar George Chaldean Church in Baghdad, December 25, 2016.
Iraq
A young boy dressed in a Santa outfit waits for the start of Christmas Day mass at Mar Hanna church in Qaraqosh on December 25, 2016 in Mosul, Iraq.
The predominantly Christian towns of Bartella and Qaraqosh on the outskirts of Mosul were recently liberated from ISIS as part of the Mosul offensive. The towns were heavily damaged and churches burned and defaced while under ISIs control.
Christian communities around Mosul are celebrating Christmas Day as the Mosul offensive continues.
Afghanistan
A British air force personnel, dressed as Santa Claus waves his hand during a soccer match between British and German soldiers in Christmas day in Resolute Support HQ, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016.
Afghanistan
British soldiers watch their colleagues’ team soccer match with German soldiers on Christmas day at Operation Resolute Support headquarters, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016.
Afghanistan
German and British troops participate in a football match to commemorate the Christmas Truce of 1914 at the ISAF Headquarters, in Kabul, Afghanistan. December 25, 2016.
Spain
Women dressed as Santa Claus prepare to jump into the Mediterranean sea as they take part in the Copa Nadal in the Spanish port of Barcelona, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016.
The Copa Nadal (Christmas Cup) is a traditional swimming competition that takes place in Barcelona every December 25th, where participants swim 200 meters in the open sea in the port of Barcelona.
Spain
An athlete dressed as a clown jumps into the Mediterranean sea as he takes part in the Copa Nadal in the Spanish port of Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016.
Egypt
A worker plows the grass in front of decorations on Christmas day in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016.
There are a lack of Christmas decorations in Cairo due to the devaluation of the Egyptian pound which affected inflation.
Macedonia
Runners dressed as Santa Claus take part in the annual Christmas race on the streets of Skopje, Macedonia, December 25, 2016.