Christmas 2018 around the world | All media content | DW | 25.12.2018

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Christmas 2018 around the world

Christians around the world gathered to celebrate the biblical birth of Jesus Christ — and to say hello to Santa Claus. DW looks at how people have been celebrating across the globe.

  • Finnland Lappland | Weihnachtsmann im Schlitten (Getty Images/AFP/L. Haapamaki)

    Freezing sendoff

    It is never too cold to see Santa Claus. Visitors to Santa's Village in Lapland, Finland — located north of the arctic circle — came out in numbers to greet Father Christmas despite temperatures of -26 degrees Celsius (-15 degrees Fahrenheit).

  • Father Frost in Belarus (Reuters/V. Fedosenko)

    Belarus Frost

    Father Frost and Snow Maiden greeted onlookers during a Christmas Eve march in the center of the Belarusian capital of Minsk. Father Frost is similar to Santa Claus or Father Christmas and has its roots in Slavic mythology.

  • Palestinian band performs in Bethlehem (Getty Images/AFP/H. Bader)

    Band of Bethlehem

    A Palestinian band performed on Manger square in front of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem — the biblical birthplace of Jesus Christ. The West Bank city is a major Christian pilgrimage destination, especially during Christmas time.

  • Christmas tree at a temporary shelter in Tijuana (Getty Images/AFP/G. Arias)

    Sheltered tree

    An undecorated Christmas tree stands tall in at the El Barretal temporary shelter in Tijuana, Mexico. The shelter is housing Central American migrants traveling towards the United States.

  • Deutschland Weihnachten FC Union Berlin (Getty Images/AFP/M. Tantussi)

    Stadium caroling

    Fans of German football club Union Berlin illuminated the club's home stadium with small candles as they sang Christmas carols. All 28,500 tickets were sold in the 16th annual gathering in what has become a firm tradition.

  • Australian women on a beach in Christmas gear (Getty Images/M. Evans)

    Christmas swimming

    Two women donned their Christmas gear while splashing around at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. December is one of the hottest months of the year across Australia, so Christmas day beach days are very common.

  • Christmas tree in Hong Kong (picture-alliance/dpa/NurPhoto/H. Wai)

    Christmas central

    A giant Christmas tree towered over a small brass band as they played in Hong Kong's Statue Square. The Christian holiday does not fall under typical Chinese traditions, but the territory certainly embraced their Christmas spirit.

  • Christmas eve in Indonesia (picture-alliance/NurPhoto/S. Putramudji)

    Candles in Indonesia

    Hundreds of Christians lit candles at a celebration in Surabaya, located about 740 kilometers (460 miles) east of Jakarta. In May, three churches in Surabaya were targeted by suicide bombers.

  • Pope Francis (Getty Images/AFP/T. Fabi)

    Christmas blessing

    Pope Francis kissed a figurine of baby Jesus during a mass on Christmas eve at St. Peter's basilica in the Vatican. The pope encouraged people to focus on love and charity instead of "consumerism" during his sermon.


  • Finnland Lappland | Weihnachtsmann im Schlitten (Getty Images/AFP/L. Haapamaki)

    Freezing sendoff

    It is never too cold to see Santa Claus. Visitors to Santa's Village in Lapland, Finland — located north of the arctic circle — came out in numbers to greet Father Christmas despite temperatures of -26 degrees Celsius (-15 degrees Fahrenheit).

  • Father Frost in Belarus (Reuters/V. Fedosenko)

    Belarus Frost

    Father Frost and Snow Maiden greeted onlookers during a Christmas Eve march in the center of the Belarusian capital of Minsk. Father Frost is similar to Santa Claus or Father Christmas and has its roots in Slavic mythology.

  • Palestinian band performs in Bethlehem (Getty Images/AFP/H. Bader)

    Band of Bethlehem

    A Palestinian band performed on Manger square in front of the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem — the biblical birthplace of Jesus Christ. The West Bank city is a major Christian pilgrimage destination, especially during Christmas time.

  • Christmas tree at a temporary shelter in Tijuana (Getty Images/AFP/G. Arias)

    Sheltered tree

    An undecorated Christmas tree stands tall in at the El Barretal temporary shelter in Tijuana, Mexico. The shelter is housing Central American migrants traveling towards the United States.

  • Deutschland Weihnachten FC Union Berlin (Getty Images/AFP/M. Tantussi)

    Stadium caroling

    Fans of German football club Union Berlin illuminated the club's home stadium with small candles as they sang Christmas carols. All 28,500 tickets were sold in the 16th annual gathering in what has become a firm tradition.

  • Australian women on a beach in Christmas gear (Getty Images/M. Evans)

    Christmas swimming

    Two women donned their Christmas gear while splashing around at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. December is one of the hottest months of the year across Australia, so Christmas day beach days are very common.

  • Christmas tree in Hong Kong (picture-alliance/dpa/NurPhoto/H. Wai)

    Christmas central

    A giant Christmas tree towered over a small brass band as they played in Hong Kong's Statue Square. The Christian holiday does not fall under typical Chinese traditions, but the territory certainly embraced their Christmas spirit.

  • Christmas eve in Indonesia (picture-alliance/NurPhoto/S. Putramudji)

    Candles in Indonesia

    Hundreds of Christians lit candles at a celebration in Surabaya, located about 740 kilometers (460 miles) east of Jakarta. In May, three churches in Surabaya were targeted by suicide bombers.

  • Pope Francis (Getty Images/AFP/T. Fabi)

    Christmas blessing

    Pope Francis kissed a figurine of baby Jesus during a mass on Christmas eve at St. Peter's basilica in the Vatican. The pope encouraged people to focus on love and charity instead of "consumerism" during his sermon.


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