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IMAGES: How the World celebrated Christmas!

Last updated on: December 25, 2010 13:55 IST

Yes, it's the time of the year again!

On this joyous occasion, rediff.com wishes all its readers 'Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,' as we a take a look at pictures of Christmas festivities from across the globe.

In this picture, a schoolgirl wears a Santa hat during a Christmas party at the Small World school in Amman, Jordan

Photograph: Ali Jarekji/Reuters

Image: A couple arrives to attend a Christmas celebration at the Cathedral of Virgin Mary Immaculate Conception in Moscow
Photographs: Denis Sinyakov/Reuters

Image: Fireworks explode around a Christmas tree during festivities in the centre of the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk
Photographs: Ilya Naymushin/Reuters

Ruben Torres, dressed in a Santa Claus outfit, and fishermen wave to people from a boat on Christmas Eve along the coast of Valparaiso city, about 75 miles (121 km) northwest of Santiago, the Chilean capital. Every year, fishermen in Valparaiso organise a Santa Claus boat trip as people wait on the shore to receive their Christmas presents and well-wishes

Image: Ruben Torres, dressed in a Santa Claus outfit, and fishermen wave to people from a boat on Christmas Eve along the coast of Valparaiso city, about 75 miles (121 km) northwest of Santiago, the Chilean capital. Every year, fishermen in Valparaiso organise a Santa Claus boat trip as people wait on the shore to receive their Christmas presents and well-wishes
Photographs: Eliseo Fernandez/Reuters

Image: An altar boy holds Pope Benedict XVI's pastoral cross as he leads the Christmas mass in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican
Photographs: Max Rossi/Reuters

Children wearing Santa Claus hats pose for a photograph as they celebrate the Christmas Day at a kindergarten at Hefei, Anhui province of China

Image: Children wearing Santa Claus hats pose for a photograph as they celebrate the Christmas Day at a kindergarten at Hefei, Anhui province of China
Photographs: Reuters

Image: People look at the nativity scene during a Christmas celebration at the Croatian capital Zagreb's Roman Catholic cathedral
Photographs: Nikola Solic/Reuters

Image: A Sri Lankan army soldier walks past a Santa Claus banner in Colombo on Christmas Eve
Photographs: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters

A Palestinian boy sits on his father's shoulder at Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity, the site revered as the birthplace of Jesus, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve

Image: A Palestinian boy sits on his father's shoulder at Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity, the site revered as the birthplace of Jesus, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve
Photographs: Ammar Awad/Reuters

An elephant dressed as Santa Claus distributes candy to students during Christmas celebrations at Jirasart school in Ayutthaya, 70 km (44 miles) north of Bangkok, Thailand

Image: An elephant dressed as Santa Claus distributes candy to students during Christmas celebrations at Jirasart school in Ayutthaya, 70 km (44 miles) north of Bangkok, Thailand
Photographs: Sukree Sukplang/Reuters

An American military personnel pose with performers from the United States following a Christmas Eve concert at Bagram Airfield, north of Kabul, Afghanistan

Image: An American military personnel pose with performers from the United States following a Christmas Eve concert at Bagram Airfield, north of Kabul, Afghanistan
Photographs: Omar Sobhani/Reuters

Image: A Sudanese man wearing a t-shirt reading, 'Vote For Your Freedom' holds up a cross during a Christmas Eve procession in Juba
Photographs: Goran Tomasevic/Reuters

Children hang off a pole during a Christmas parade outside the Church of the Nativity, the site revered as the birthplace of Jesus, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve

Image: Children hang off a pole during a Christmas parade outside the Church of the Nativity, the site revered as the birthplace of Jesus, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve
Photographs: Darren Whiteside/Reuters

Image: A woman wearing a Santa Claus dress looks at a Christmas tree shaped tricycle as part of Christmas celebration in Hyderabad
Photographs: Krishnendu Halder/Reuters