Millions have gathered across the world to celebrate Christmas Day in their own unique ways.
Latin Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa leads the Christmas midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Wednesday Dec. 25, 2024. APChristmas midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. APWorshippers of the Legio Maria African Church Mission attend the Christmas Eve vigil mass at St. Helena Mathare Parish in the informal settlement of Mathare in Nairobi, Kenya in the early hours of December 25, 2024. Legio Maria is an African independent religious movement among particularly the Luo people of western Kenya that developed gradually and eventually separated from the Roman Catholic Church in the 1960s. The religious movement was initiated by repeated appearances of a mystic woman delivering messages about the incarnation of the Son of God as a black man. AFP via Getty ImagesChristians attend the Christmas Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral Church, in Lahore, Pakistan. APA participant wearing a Grinch mask jumps into the water in Barcelona’s Port Vell. AFP via Getty ImagesTourists wearing hats pose for a photo next to a Christmas tree on Christmas Day at Bondi Beach in Sydney. AFP via Getty ImagesGirls in national costumes celebrate Christmas near St. Michael Monastery in a city centre in Kyiv, Ukraine. APAn Orthodox Christian believer lights a candle during a Christmas mass at the golden-domed Alexander Nevski Cathedral, in Sofia, Bulgaria. AFP via Getty ImagesMilitary chaplain Yurii of 24th Mechanized Brigade holds a church service for infantry unit during Christmas near the frontline town of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, Ukraine. APPope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for ‘to the city and to the world’ ) Christmas’ day blessing from the main balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. APParticipants take part in a Christmas day swim in the sea at Brighton beach, southern England. AFP via Getty ImagesChildren look inside the church filled with devotees singing carols and praying in Kathmandu, Nepal. APChristians attend the Christmas mass in the Greek Orthodox convent Saint Takla, in Maaloula, some 60 km northern Damascus, Syria. APA Christian devotee kisses a boy dressed as Santa Claus on Christmas at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir. APA cyclist dressed as Santa Claus rides along a road, on Christmas in New Delhi, India. AFP via Getty ImagesTwo participants kiss each other prior to jumping into the water during the 115th edition of the Copa Nadal (Christmas Cup) swimming race in Barcelona’s Port Vell. AFP via Getty ImagesMembers of the winter and ice swimming club ‘Seehunde Berlin’, (Berlin Seals), wearing Christmas themed hats, enter the water during the traditional annual Christmas swim on Christmas Day, at the Oranke Lake in Berlin. APSwimmers take part in the Macmillan Boscombe White Christmas Dip, in aid of Macmillan Caring Locally, at Boscombe Pier in Bournemouth, England. APThe Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, second right, following the Christmas Day Festal Eucharist service at York Minster, England. APA man stops in prayer as he walks through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. AProm left, Britain’s Prince William, Prince Louis, Prince George, Kate, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte following the Christmas day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham in Norfolk, England. APPeople wearing national suits sing carols as they celebrate Christmas near St. Michael Monastery in a city centre in Kyiv, Ukraine. APPeople take part in a Christmas solidarity dinner called ‘No Families Without Christmas’, in front of the National Congress, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. REUTERSFireworks burst over Saydnaya Convent during the lighting of the Christmas tree, in Saydnaya town on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria. AP
