Around the world on Christmas Eve

Published December 24, 2012
People dressed up as Santa Claus enjoy a traditional Christmas bath on December 23, 2012 in Monaco. ? Photo by AFP
People dressed up as Santa Claus enjoy a traditional Christmas bath on December 23, 2012 in Monaco. ? Photo by AFP
An elephant dressed in a Santa Claus costume gives gifts to students ahead of the Christmas festival at a school in Ayutthaya province on December 24, 2012.  The event was held as part of a campaign to promote Christmas in Thailand. ? Photo by
An elephant dressed in a Santa Claus costume gives gifts to students ahead of the Christmas festival at a school in Ayutthaya province on December 24, 2012. The event was held as part of a campaign to promote Christmas in Thailand. ? Photo by
Supporters of the German second division football club FC Union Berlin attend the 10th Christmas singing at Stadium Alte Foersterei in Berlin, on December 23, 2012. For two hours, more than 20000 people sang Christmas songs. ? Photo by AFP
Supporters of the German second division football club FC Union Berlin attend the 10th Christmas singing at Stadium Alte Foersterei in Berlin, on December 23, 2012. For two hours, more than 20000 people sang Christmas songs. ? Photo by AFP
Indian schoolchildren dressed as Santa Claus ride on a cycle-rickshaw through a street in Amritsar on December 24,2012, ahead of Christmas Day. Despite Christians forming a little over 2 percent of the billion plus population in India, with Hindus comprising the majority, Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare and zeal throughout the country. ? Photo by AFP
Indian schoolchildren dressed as Santa Claus ride on a cycle-rickshaw through a street in Amritsar on December 24,2012, ahead of Christmas Day. Despite Christians forming a little over 2 percent of the billion plus population in India, with Hindus comprising the majority, Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare and zeal throughout the country. ? Photo by AFP
Children dressed in Santa Claus outfits line up before a Christmas celebration at a kindergarten in Hanoi December 24, 2012. ? Photo by Reuters
Children dressed in Santa Claus outfits line up before a Christmas celebration at a kindergarten in Hanoi December 24, 2012. ? Photo by Reuters
Nuns decorate an altar of Holy Rosary Church with statues representing the nativity scene on Christmas eve in Dhaka December 24, 2012. ? Photo by Reuters
Nuns decorate an altar of Holy Rosary Church with statues representing the nativity scene on Christmas eve in Dhaka December 24, 2012. ? Photo by Reuters
A Palestinian women dressed in traditional costume watches a Christmas parade outside the Church of Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem December 24, 2012.  ? Photo by Reuters
A Palestinian women dressed in traditional costume watches a Christmas parade outside the Church of Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem December 24, 2012. ? Photo by Reuters
Christian worshippers from Nigeria pray in the Grotto of the Church of Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Thousands of Christian worshippers and tourists arrived in Bethlehem on Monday to mark Christmas at the site many believe Jesus Christ was born. ? Photo by AP
Christian worshippers from Nigeria pray in the Grotto of the Church of Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Monday, Dec. 24, 2012. Thousands of Christian worshippers and tourists arrived in Bethlehem on Monday to mark Christmas at the site many believe Jesus Christ was born. ? Photo by AP
A Pakistani altar boy tidies up the Communion table at a church in South Waziristan November 28, 2012.This Christmas, pastor Nazir Alam will stoke up a fire, lay a fresh cloth on the altar and welcome parishioners as they arrive at his church in Waziristan, a Pakistani tribal area known as an al-Qaeda haven. The words on the table reads in Urdu, "If your son will free you then you are really free." Picture taken on November 28, 2012. ? Photo by Reuters
A Pakistani altar boy tidies up the Communion table at a church in South Waziristan November 28, 2012.This Christmas, pastor Nazir Alam will stoke up a fire, lay a fresh cloth on the altar and welcome parishioners as they arrive at his church in Waziristan, a Pakistani tribal area known as an al-Qaeda haven. The words on the table reads in Urdu, "If your son will free you then you are really free." Picture taken on November 28, 2012. ? Photo by Reuters
In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 photo, a girl plays with a glowing ball inside a cone of lights representing a Christmas tree, in central Dakar, Senegal. As Christmas approaches in mostly Muslim Senegal, vendors ply the streets selling tinsel, artificial trees, and inflatable Santas, and the main boulevards are all aglow in holiday lights. Senegal, a moderate country along Africa's western coast, has long been a place where Christians and Muslims coexist peacefully and share in each other's holidays. ? Photo by AP
In this Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012 photo, a girl plays with a glowing ball inside a cone of lights representing a Christmas tree, in central Dakar, Senegal. As Christmas approaches in mostly Muslim Senegal, vendors ply the streets selling tinsel, artificial trees, and inflatable Santas, and the main boulevards are all aglow in holiday lights. Senegal, a moderate country along Africa's western coast, has long been a place where Christians and Muslims coexist peacefully and share in each other's holidays. ? Photo by AP

From Senegal to Palestine, how the world celebrated Christmas Eve in 2012. - Photos by Agencies

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