Christmas Observances 2011

Christmas, Spain — David Ramos/Getty Images

A competitor holds a banner, that reads Merry Christmas in Catalan, as he celebrates with other competitors prior to the 102nd Barcelona Traditional Christmas Swimming Cup at the Old Harbour of Barcelona on December 25, 2011 in Barcelona, Spain. The Copa Nadal is organised by the Barcelona Swimming Club. It was launched in 1908 and has only been suspended three times, in 1936, 1937, and 1938, because of the Spanish Civil War. The Christmas Cup involves swimming across some 200 metres of open water in Barcelona harbour.

Syria, Christians, Christmas — LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images

Syrian Christians attend Christmas Day mass at the Saint George Monastery in Mishtaya, some 50 kms from Homs, on December 25, 2011. Escaping a city wracked by incessant violence, Syrian Christians from Homs flock to a nearby monastery to celebrate Christmas away from a place that has 'lost its senses.'

australia, christmas — Don Arnold/Getty Images

North Bondi Surf Life-Savers pose alongside their Christmas tree at Bondi Beach on December 25, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. Bondi Beach is a popular place for tourists on Christmas Day.

Pakistan, Christians, Christmas — AAMIR QURESHI/AFP/Getty Images

Pakistani Christians women pray around illuminated display of nativity scenes specially set up during Christmas celebrations at a Christian neighborhood in Islamabad on December 25, 2011. There is a tiny Christian minority in Pakistan, where only three percent of the population of 167 million are estimated to be non-Muslim. Christians in Pakistan and elsewhere in the world celebrate Christmas.

Britain, royals, Prince Andrew, Prince William, Prince Charles, Kate Duchess of Cambridge, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall — AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis

From left, Britain's Prince Andrew, Prince William, Prince Charles, Kate Duchess of Cambridge, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry arrive to attend a Christmas Service at St Mary's church on the grounds of Sandringham Estate, the Queen's Norfolk retreat, England, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011.

Queen Elizabeth, Christmas, England — AP Photo

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, center, receives flowers from children after she and other members of the royal family attended a Christmas Service at St Mary's church in the grounds of Sandringham Estate, the Queen's Norfolk retreat, England, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011.

india, christians, christmas — Daniel Berehulak /Getty Images

An Indian woman helps a child to light a candle as Christians gather to celebrate Christmas at the Sacred Heart Cathedral on Christmas Day, December 25, 2011 in New Delhi, India. A diverse variety of religions are practiced by the Indian population with Christianity being the third largest, consisting of approximately 25 million followers and constituting roughly 2.3% of the population.

Iraq, Christians, Christmas — AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images

Bishop Shlemon Warduni, the second most senior Chaldean in Iraq, leads the start of Christmas mass at the Virgin Mary Chaldean Christian church (Church of Our Lady of Sacred Heart) in the capital Baghdad on December 25, 2011. Iraq's dwindling Christian population marked Christmas with religious leaders calling for peace, days after attacks across Baghdad killed dozens and a political row raised sectarian tensions. Warduni estimates that Iraq's Christian population, put at between 800,000 to 1.2 million before the 2003 US-led invasion that overthrew dictator Saddam Hussein, had halved since then.

Amristar, India

An Indian dressed as an angel lights candles on Christmas Eve at St. Paul's church in Amritsar on December 24, 2011. Despite Christians forming a little more than two percent of the billion-plus population in India, with Hindus comprising the majority, Christmas is celebrated throughout the country.

Bethlehem

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Holy Land, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fuad Twal (center), makes his way to the Church of the Nativity in the Biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, December 24, 2011, as the Holy Land prepares to mark Christmas.

Minsk, Belarus

Men dressed as Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost), the Santa Claus in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, and women dressed in Snegurochka (Snow Maiden) costumes march in central Minsk, December 24, 2011.

Irving, Texas

U.S. Army Sgt. Derek James walks with his daughter Avan James, 3, and his wife, Madison James, after his arrival at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on December 24, 2011 in Irving, Texas. Hundreds of family members and volunteers gathered to meet more than 350 troops who arrived on Christmas Eve for their two-week leave from deployments in Afghanistan and Kuwait. The event was organized by the Welcome Home a Hero program.

Sidnaia, Syria

A Syrian Greek Orthodox nun prays at the Virgin Mary monastery in Sidnaia, north of Damascus, on December 23, 2011. Nine months of unrest in Syria have stripped Christian neighborhoods of any sign of Christmas joy as Syrian Christians have decided to cancel celebrations and only observe Christmas mass.

Soeul, South Korea

A South Korean man lights candles at Myeongdong Catholic Cathedral in Seoul on December 24, 2011. Christmas is one of the biggest holidays celebrated in South Korea, with Christians forming over half the population.

Bethlehem

Christians and others gather in Manger Square, the central plaza next to the Church of the Nativity, as people ready to celebrate Christmas in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on December 24, 2011. The Church of the Nativity is built over the site where Christians believe Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable, and laid him in an animal's feeding trough (or manger).

Bethlehem

The head of the Roman Catholic Church in the Holy Land, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fuad Twal, stands outside the Church of the Nativity in the Biblical West Bank city of Bethlehem, December 24, 2011, as the Holy Land prepares to mark Christmas.

Bethlehem

A worshiper prays in the Church of Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 24, 2011, as Christians gather for Christmas mass.

Bethlehem

Palestinian girls dressed in traditional garb pose in Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity as Christians gather for Christmas celebrations in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, on December 24, 2011, to celebrate in Jesus Christ's traditional birthplace.

Bethlehem

An Eastern European pilgrim prays at the entrance to the Grotto in the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on December 24, 2011. Christians began flocking to Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas following a tumultuous year of political upheaval and change across the Arab world.

Bethlehem

Two Palestinian Muslim women pose for a snapshot in front a nativity scene inside the Church of Nativity, believed by many to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011.

Moscow, Russia

A priest holds a Christmas service at Moscow's Cathedral of Virgin Mary Immaculate Conception on December 24, 2011. While most Russians will mark Orthodox Christmas on January 7, 2012 (according to the old Julian calendar), Western Christmas is being celebrated on December 25 by Russia's 600,000-strong Roman Catholic community.

Moscow, Russia

Worshipers attend a Christmas service at Moscow's Cathedral of Virgin Mary Immaculate Conception on December 24, 2011.

Cairo, Egypt

Egyptian children gather around a Christmas present from a man dressed as Santa Claus at a restaurant in Cairo on December 24, 2011.

Jacksonville, Ill.

AP Photo/Journal-Courier, Robert Leistra

A man who declined to give his name receives a plate of food during dinner service at the Salvation Army Christmas meal in Jacksonville, Ill., Friday, Dec. 23, 2011. Close to 200 people were served, which is an increase of more than 50 people from last year.

Vatican City

Pope Benedict XVI lights a candle in his private window, at the end of the unveiling ceremony of the crib in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, December 24, 2011. Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate holy mass at St. Peter's Basilica to mark the nativity of Jesus Christ.

Vatican City

A view of St. Peter's Basilica during the unveiling ceremony of the crib in St Peter's Square at the Vatican, December 24, 2011.

Baghdad, Iraq

Chaldean priest Saad Syrop leads Christmas Eve mass in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011.

Baghdad, Iraq

Iraqi Christians attend Christmas mass at the Virgin Mary Chaldean Christian church in Baghdad on December 24, 2011. Iraq's Christians - markedly fewer in number following attacks on their minority community - are increasingly fearful in the face of a rise in sectarian tensions after the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

Baghdad, Iraq

An Iraqi security officer stands guard on the rooftop of the Virgin Mary Chaldean Christian Church, reflecting tightened security measures prior to Christmas mass, in Baghdad, December 24, 2011.

Karachi, Pakistan

Christian Pakistani women decorate the Christ Church in Karachi on December 24, 2011. Pakistan will deploy snipers and hundreds of extra police at churches this Christmas to prevent possible attacks on the Christian minority, police said.

Puri Golden Beach, India

Artists dressed as Santa Claus create a Santa Claus sculpture on Christmas Eve at Puri Golden Beach, 42 miles from the city of Bhubaneswar, India, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011.

Norfolk, Va.

Steve Earley,AP Photo/The Virginian-Pilot

Santa (a.k.a. Don Ward of Virginia Beach, Va.) drives down Princess Anne Avenue in his 1958 Corvette on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in Norfolk, Va. Ward said for years he has spent all of Christmas Eve day driving around the neighborhoods of Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake waving to people along the way. In his other life Ward is a crane operator.

West Littleton, England

Members of the Duke of Beaufort Hunt ride out on their Christmas Eve meet on December 24, 2011, at West Littleton (near Bath), England. Many hunts across the country will be gearing up for their Boxing Day meets, which traditionally are the highest attended of the hunting calender.

Manila, Philippines

Filipinos attempt to break a Guinness world record for the biggest simultaneous exchange of gifts, or kris kringle, in Manila, Philippines on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011.

Lalitpur, Nepal

Nepalese Christians pray at the Catholic Assumption Church in Lalitpur on the outskirts of Kathamandu during Christmas Eve, December 24, 2011. Less than one percent of the 27 million-population in the Himalayan nation are Christian.

Los Angeles, Calif.

The homeless and impoverished sit down for a Christmas lunch at the Los Angeles Mission on December 23, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. Hollywood celebrities did their part to help with the annual Homeless Christmas Celebration on Skid Row at the Los Angeles Mission, founded in 1936, to help those in poverty.

Owensboro, Ky.

AP Photo/The Messenger-Inquirer, John Dunham

Santa Claus makes his entrance on the back of a golf cart as excited children wave, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, during the Goodfellows Club's annual Christmas party, at the Sportscenter in Owensboro, Ky. Owensboro firefighters, police and volunteers helped with organizing toys and entertainment for the local families.

Riverton, Utah

AP Photo/Rick Egan - The Salt Lake Tribune

Every year students at Riverton High School hold a three-week Silver Rush fundraising drive for charity. This year they were raising funds for The Christmas Box House, which aids abused children.

At left: Student Body Officer Zoey Gibbons reacts Friday, Dec. 23, 2011, as total donations from this year's fundraising campaign were announced: $106,467.12, which broke the previous record of about $81,000.

New York, N.Y.

Christina Nix, left, and Mary Nix, of Ireland, pause to say a prayer in front of the Christmas creche in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, in New York.

Kabul, Afghanistan

A U.S. Chaplain (second right) with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) attends a ceremony on Christmas Eve inside a church at the ISAF's headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011.

Hyerabad, India

People look on at an illuminated St. Joseph's Cathedral on Christmas Eve in Hyderabad, India, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011. Christmas Day is observed as a national holiday in India.

Tokyo, Japan

People walk through a "tunnel of lights" set up by a Christmas tree and other trees decorated for illuminations in Tokyo, Japan, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011.

Anchorage, Aka.

AP Photo/ANNE RAUP, Anchorage Daily News

Ornaments decorate the trail around University Lake, Friday, Dec. 23, 2011. The recent storm coated the Anchorage bowl with anywhere from 6-16 inches of snow.

Bogota, Colombia

A street performer dressed as an angel stands next to a Christmas tree at Bolivar Square in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, Dec. 23, 2011.

Southaven, Miss.

AP Photo/The Commercial Appeal, Stan Carroll

Southaven, Miss., Fire Department driver Ron Webb, center, and Lt. Kevin Reeves, right, deliver Christmas presents to Trinity Howe, front left, Aiden Howe, Domonick Howe and Seyerra Howe on Friday, Dec. 23, 2011 in Southaven.

Harlingen, Texas

AP Photo/Valley Morning Star, Jesse Mendoza

Volunteers with the organization Loaves & Fishes serve Christmas dinner to local homeless and needy people Friday, Dec. 23, 2011, in Harlingen, Texas. The shelter provides meals and beds to people in need on a daily basis.

West Pittston, Pa.

A Christmas manger scene is seen Dec. 21, 2011, in front of a house in West Pittston, Pa., where homeowners flooded during Tropical Storm Lee three months ago are stick awaiting pickup of debris left behind from the storm. Residents in towns up and down the Susquehanna River are frustrated by the slow pace of recovery and will be out of their homes for Christmas.

San Francisco, Calif.

Aquarium biologist Rich Ross - dressed as Scuba Santa Claus - prepares to hand-feed fish mysis shrimp and fish food at the 212,000-gallon Philippine coral reef, at the California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco, Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011.

Pasay, Philippines

A volunteer pulls out a sack of rice as relief goods are sorted at the Department of Social Welfare and Development warehouse at Pasay, south of Manila, Philippines on Friday, Dec. 23, 2011.

Social workers and volunteers helped pack relief goods which will be sent to some 40,000 evacuees in flood-hit cities of Cagayan De Oro and Iligan in southern Philippines. The storm left about a thousand people dead.

Cagayan De Oro, Philippines

Evacuees queue up for relief goods distributed at an evacuation center Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011 following Friday's flash flooding brought about by Tropical Storm Washi in Cagayan De Oro, southern Philippines. Tens of thousands of residents continue to be housed in evacuation centers in the two cities of Cagayan De Oro and Iligan after Friday's flash floods that killed more than a thousand people and washed away their homes.