Christmas 2016: Images from around the world

From religious services to celebrations on Sydney's Bondi Beach and man-made snow in Honolulu - these amazing images show some of the ways Christmas was celebrated around the world in 2016.

Bondi Beach

Beachgoers spend Christmas Day on Bondi Beach, in Sydney. Source: AAP

Germany: Bikers dressed as Santas drive through Hagen, Germany, on their way to an annual meeting to have hot chocolate, mulled wine and coffee.
German bikers
Source: AAP
Australia: Beachgoers line up for ice cream as they spend Christmas Day on Sydney's Bondi Beach.
Bondi Beach
Source: AAP
The Vatican: Pope Francis, left, celebrates Midnight Mass of Christmas on the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord in Saint Peter's Basilica.
The Vatican
Source: AAP
Germany: Small-clawed otters inspect their Christmas present - a gift-wrapped fish - in an enclosure in the zoo in Frankfurt.
Social media platforms have made it easier to purchase exotic pets like otters.
Social media platforms have made it easier to purchase exotic pets like otters. Source: AAP
Bethlehem: Christian clergy line up at the Manger Square to take part in the Christmas Eve procession into the Church of the Nativity, the traditionally accepted birthplace of Jesus Christ. The Church of the Nativity, built on the site where Jesus Christ is believed to have been born in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, is administered jointly by Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Armenian Apostolic and Syriac orthodox church. It is also a World Heritage Site listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Bethlehem
Source: AAP
Syria: Christians attend a mass to celebrate Christmas at the Melkite Greek Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Dormition in al-Zaitoun neighbourhood in Damascus.
Syria
Source: AAP
India: A sand sculptures of Santa Claus created by Indian sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik on Christmas Eve at the Golden beach at Puri, 65 km from Bhubaneswar. Despite Christians making up only 2.3 per cent of India's population, Christmas is celebrated throughout the country. 
India
Source: AAP
London: Queen Elizabeth II sits at a desk in the Regency Room in Buckingham Palace, after recording her Christmas Day broadcast to the Commonwealth.
Queen Elizabeth II
Source: AAP
France: A swimmer dressed in a Christmas-themed bathing suit prepares to take a dip in the 5 degree Celsius water of the Canal de l'Ourq on Christmas Eve in Pantin outside Paris.
France
Source: AAP
Russia: Moscovites enjoy the Christmas decorations as they prepare to celebrate New Year's Eve on December 31 and Christmas which is observed on January 7, according to the Russian Orthodox Julian calendar 13 days after Christmas on December 25 as per the Gregorian Calendar. 
Russia
Source: AAP
Australia: Cricket player Nathan Lyon and his daughter Miller are seen in the nets ahead of the Boxing Day test in Melbourne on Monday January 26. It is customary for the team's family to join the players on Christmas Day.
Nathan Lyon and his daughter Miller
Source: AAP
Turkey: A man takes a picture of a Menorah seen on a screen during the Jewish festival of Hannukah in Istanbul.
Turkey
Source: AAP
Honolulu: Grant Hubbard, 7, and his sister Anya Hubbard, 11, both from Hawaii pose for a picture with Santa Claus and several tons of man-made snow in front of Aloha Stadium before an NCAA college football game at the Hawaii Bowl. Children attending the game threw snow balls and made snow angels.
Honolulu
Source: AAP
Georgia: Cars move past a statue of St. George decorated like a Christmas tree in the center of Tbilisi.
Georgia
Source: EPA
USA: New England Patriots cheerleaders ahead of the NFL game between the New England Patriots and the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
USA
Source: AAP
Australia: The Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, helps serve lunch at the Wayside Chapel Christmas Day service, in Sydney.
Malcolm Turnbull
Source: AAP

Watch: Australians attend Christmas Church service




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3 min read
Published 25 December 2016 6:24pm
Updated 25 December 2016 7:15pm
Source: AAP


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