Candles are lit after midnight Christmas service at Saint Anthony Church in Sarajevo late on December 24.
A general view shows the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve on December 24.
Shadows of Palestinians are cast on a wall with a cross at Gaza's Der Latin church on Christmas Eve.
A child holds a candle during a Christmas mass at the Bethany Church in Surabaya, East Java December 24.
A volunteer hands a toy to one-year-old Tavion Johson during New York's largest Christmas Day Celebration for New Yorkers in need at the YMCA in Brooklyn.
New Yorkers are seen eating Christmas dinner during New York's largest Christmas Day Celebration for those in need at the YMCA in Brooklyn, New York.
Chinese police stand guard as thousands gather to celebrate Chirstmas Eve at the centre of southwest China's Chongqing municipality on December 24.
Chinese police stand guard as thousands gather to celebrate Chirstmas Eve at the centre of southwest China's Chongqing municipality on December 24.
Thousands of worshippers hold candles as they attend a Christmas Eve mass at Bethani church in Surabaya.
Residents dance and walk around the main plaza in Remedios Residents dance and walk around the main plaza in Remedios, in the central province of Villa Clara.
Residents dance and walk around the main plaza in Remedios, in the central province of Villa Clara.
People walk on a street with Christmas decorations in Tbilisi.
People pose for photo on a street with Christmas decorations in Tbilisi.
A street vendor sells goods on a street with Christmas decorations in Tbilisi.
Fireworks explode during a Christmas service at Moscow's Cathedral of the Virgin Mary of Immaculate Conception on December 24.
The Christmas tree and the crib in St Peter's Square at the Vatican.
People walk under Christmas lights in a gallery of Saint Mark's square during a period of flooding in the canal city of Venice late December 24.
Pope Benedict XVI is flanked by Cardinal Agostino Cacciavillan (left) and Cardinal Francesco marchisano (right) as he delivers Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) Christmas Day message from the central balcony of Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican
Canadian Forces Maj. Wesley Cunningham and Lt.-Comm. Daphne Dale shared their first Christmas together as a married couple in Afghanistan.
Canadian soldiers stationed at this forward operating base in Afghanistan listen to some Christmas entertainment at the mess hall.
U.S. army officers and soldiers are pictured during a prayer service inside a camp on Christmas Day in Nuristan Province.
U.S Army soldiers from Task Force Denali Platoon 1-40 CAV have lunch during a Christmas celebration at FOB Clark in Khowst province, Afghanistan on December 25.
A cook prepares a table before a lunch to celebrate Christmas at FOB Clark in Khowst province, Afghanistan on December 25.
Residents gather around a fire as they celebrate Christmas at a square near the church in Mosul, about 390 kilometres north of Baghdad on December 24.
Nepali Christians sing and dance to celebrate Christmas in Kathmandu.
Palestinians ride on a horse drawn cart by the ruins of a house, covered by a huge Palestinian flag, destroyed during the three-week offensive Israel launched last year, before a rally to mark the first anniversary of the war in Jabalya refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip on Christmas Day.
A decorated Christmas tree can be seen in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate on Christmas Day.
A man walks past a sale sign on Oxford Street on Christmas Day in London.
A general view Piccadilly Circus on Christmas Day in London.
Santa Claus led his Magic of Christmas elves from their Calgary Transit bus to deliver presents and Christmas items to one of the 241 homes in Calgary.
Visitors watch divers in Santa Claus costumes decorate a Christmas tree in a shark tank at Jakarta's Sea World aquarium during Christmas celebrations.
A diver dressed as Santa Claus feeds fishes in a tank at Jakarta's Sea World aquarium during Christmas celebrations.
A member of Berlin's ice swimming club "Berliner Seehunde" (Berlin seals) in a Santa dress takes a dip in Orankesee lake in Berlin.
A man dressed as Santa Claus water skis on the Potomac River at National Harbor in Prince George's County, Maryland, near Washington, DC, on December 24.
A man dressed as an elf performs aerobatics during a performance highlighted by a water skiing Santa Claus on the Potomac River at National Harbor in Prince George's County, Maryland, near Washington, DC on December 24.
A surfer on Sydney's North Steyne Beach heads for a Christmas Day surf at sunrise.
A decorated Christmas tree can be seen in front of Berlin's Television tower on Christmas Day.
