IN PHOTOS: World immersed in Christmas fervour

We present a collection of photographs from across the globe that exhibit Christmas festivities. Merry Christmas!

In this photograph, Pope Benedict XVI leaves at the end of the Christmas night mass in the Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

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Actors re-enact the nativity scene during Christmas celebrations in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Catholic nuns pray during a midnight Christmas mass at Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York.

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A man dressed in Santa Claus outfit and fishermen wave to people from a boat on Christmas Eve along the coast of Valparaiso city, Chile

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Catholics attend Christmas eve mass at a church near the city of Taiyuan, China

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Dancers perform during Christmas celebrations, on the eve of the holiday at an amusement park, in Shanghai

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An Indonesian police officer stands guard with his rifle during Christmas eve prayers, in front of the Cathedral Church in Makassar, South Sulawesi province

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Children and elephants (rear), all dressed in Santa Claus costumes, pose for photographers during Christmas celebrations at Jirasart school in Ayutthaya province, near Bangkok,

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Laser beams and images are projected on the facade of Madrid's city hall as spectators attend a lighting show to mark the start of the Christmas festivities in Madrid

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Spanish and U.S. soldiers with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, wearing Santa hats, pose for a photograph during Christmas Eve celebrations at a NATO camp in Kabul

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Children shake hands with a Santa Claus in Guwahati on Tuesday

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Iraqi boys pray for peace in Iraq and Syria during Mass a day before Christmas Eve at Chaldean Catholic Church in Amman, Jordan. 

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A man dressed as Santa Claus waves to people in street on the eve of Christmas celebrations in Lahore, Pakistan

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