Christmas around the world
A Christian worshipper receives communion during a Christmas Midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, Dec. 25, 2014.
Belgium
Men dressed as WWI-era English and German soldiers play soccer to mark the centenary of the legendary football match between the German and Allied troops on the Western Front during the Christmas Truce of 1914, at the Flanders Peace Field, close to where the Christmas Truce soccer game took place in Mesen, Belgium, Dec. 25, 2014.
China
A contestant wearing a Santa Claus costume rides in a sledge pulled by a reindeer during a race on snow-covered tracks at the opening ceremony of a local winter festival in Genhe of Hulun Buir, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Dec. 24, 2014.
Afghanistan
U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major Roger Heinze, center, serves U.S. soldiers from the 3rd Cavalry Regiment food during a Christmas day lunch at Forward Operating Base Gamberi in Laghman province, Afghanistan, Dec. 25, 2014.
Great Britain
Britain's Queen Elizabeth arrives at St. Mary Magdalene church for the Royal Family's Christmas Day service on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England, Dec. 25, 2014.
Great Britain
Britain's Prince William, his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry leave a Christmas Day morning service at the church on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, England, Dec. 25, 2014.
Great Britain
Competitors take part in the Peter Pan Cup open water swim in the Serpentine Lake in Hyde Park, London, Dec. 25, 2014.
More than 100 swimmers took part in the annual Christmas Day event, swimming in water temperatures of 3-5 degrees celsius.
Syria
Syrians dressed in festive outfits walk down the street playing music in the village of Rableh in the area of Qusayr, Homs province, Syria, as they celebrate Christmas, Dec. 25, 2014.
Pakistan
A girl with henna-dyed hands, attend a mass on Christmas Day at the St. John's Cathedral Church, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Dec. 25, 2014.
Iraq
An Iraqi Christian woman prays during a mass on Christmas day at Mar Girgis Church in Baghdad, Dec. 25, 2014.
Kenya
Christian worshippers sing hymns during mass on Christmas Day at the All Saints Cathedral church in Kenya's capital Nairobi, Dec. 25, 2014.
Kuwait
Christians immigrants living in Kuwait cross a pedestrian bridge as they make their way to the Holy Family Cathedral to attend Christmas mass, in Kuwait City, Dec. 25, 2014.
Germany
Members of the ice swimming club "Berliner Seehunde" (Berlin Seals) take a dip in the Orankesee lake in Berlin, Germany as part of their traditional Christmas ice swimming session, Dec. 25, 2014.
Pakistan
People light candles in front of the religious statues on Christmas day at the Cathedral Church in Lahore, Pakistan, Dec. 25, 2014.
Afghanistan
A U.S. soldier from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force sits as performers from the USO sing and dance during a Christmas day concert for U.S. military personnel at Bagram Airfield, north of Kabul, Dec. 25, 2014.
Russia
Pedestrians are reflected in the enclosure of a Christmas fair on Moscow's Red Square, Dec. 25, 2014.
China
Owners of Harley-Davidson motorcycles wearing Santa Claus costumes ride along a street to give presents to elders at a nursing home during a promotional event celebrating Christmas in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, Dec. 24, 2014.
Christmas is not a traditional festival in officially atheist China but is growing in popularity, especially in more metropolitan areas where young people go out to celebrate, give gifts and decorate their homes.
Greece
People wait to enter an indoor gym hall for a Christmas meal for the homeless and the poor in Athens, Dec. 25, 2014.
Hundreds of people visited the hall for a holiday meal provided by the city of Athens.
Australia
People play in the rock pools at North Bondi at Bondi Beach on December 25, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. Bondi Beach is a popular tourist destination on Christmas Day.
Vatican City
Swiss Guards arrive in St. Peter's Square to attend Pope Francis's Christmas Day message from St. Peter's Basilica, Dec. 25, 2014 in Vatican City, Vatican.
The 'Urbi et Orbi' blessing (to the city and to the world) is recognized as a Christmas tradition by Catholics. This year Pope Francis focused on the peace in the world.
India
Indian Christians light candles at a Christmas Day service outside the St. Mary's church in Siliguri, India, Dec. 25, 2014.
Despite Christians forming a little over two percent of the billion-plus population in India, Christmas is celebrated with fanfare and zeal throughout the country.
Spain
A competitor in a Santa costume jumps into the sea during the 105th Barcelona Traditional Christmas Swimming Cup in the Old Harbor of Barcelona, Spain, Dec. 25, 2014.
The Copa Nadal is organized by the Barcelona Swimming Club and involves competitors swimming across 200 meters of water in the harbor. Launched in 1908, the event has only been suspended three times, when the Spanish Civil War interrupted proceedings between 1936 and 1938.