In pictures: Christmas celebrations around the world
- Published
People across the world are celebrating one of the holiest times in the Christian calendar. But this year's church services and events (Christmas Day is celebrated by western churches on 25 December but by eastern churches on 7 January) are being attended by far fewer people because of the coronavirus outbreak. Social distancing and wearing masks are now the new must in many places.
In Australia, Christmas-themed attire was popular among swimmers at Sydney's famous Bondi Beach
Pope Francis led a Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican before a drastically reduced congregation
The Archbishop of Canterbury wore a protective face mask and gloves during a Christmas Day service in the UK
These Christians in the Indonesian capital Jakarta observed social distancing at a Christmas Mass
Worshippers in Tokyo also observed coronavirus measures
These women in Kenya's Kibera slum wore masks during Christmas prayers
In South Korea, a Christmas service from the Yoido Full Gospel Church was streamed online
In India, children lit candles at the entrance gate of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi
This woman wore a mask to attend a service in Kolkata
These women prayed silently during the service in St Andrew's Church in Karachi, Pakistan
In Iraq, people gathered around a fire during a Mass in the Virgin Mary Church in the capital Baghdad
There were festive cheers at this centre for the elderly in Santiago de Compostela in Spain
This mother and son wore protective clothing to visit a care home in northern England
People in parts of the UK woke up to a white Christmas
Employees at a gold shop in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat got into the festive spirit by donning reindeer antlers
In Indonesia, children wore masks as they interacted with Santa Claus at a shopping mall
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