Christmas Marked Around The World

Bethlehem
An Armenian priest prays during a morning mass at the Image copyrightEPA
Image caption
An Armenian priest prays during Mass in the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, accepted by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus Christ
Worshippers light candles inside the Church of the Nativity, the site revered as the birthplace of Jesus, during Christmas celebrations in the West Bank town of Bethlehem December 24, 2015.Image copyrightReuters
Image caption
Worshippers light candles inside the 1,600-year-old church
Nigerian pilgrims pray inside the Church of the Nativity during Christmas celebrations in the West Bank town of Bethlehem December 24, 2015Image copyrightReuters
Image caption
Nigerian pilgrims pray inside inside the Grotto, where Christians believe Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus
Vatican City
A general view shows Pope Francis celebrating a mass on Christmas eve to mark the birth of Jesus Christ on December 24, 2015 at St Pater's basilica in VaticanImage copyrightAFP/Getty Images
Image caption
Close to 10,000 people attended the service in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican
Pope Francis swings a censer in front of a statue of baby Jesus as he celebrates a mass on Christmas eve marking the birth of Jesus Christ on December 24, 2015Image copyrightAFP/Getty Images
Image caption
Pope Francis said Christmas was the time to "once more discover who we are"
Beijing
A cross-bearer prepares to enter the church as he attends the Christmas Eve mass at a Catholic church in Beijing on December 24, 2015Image copyrightAFP/Getty Images
Image caption
A cross-bearer prepares to enter Beijing's Catholic Church for Mass
Chinese worshippers attend the Christmas Eve mass at a Catholic church in Beijing on December 25, 2015Image copyrightAFP/Getty Images
Image caption
The US and British embassies in China had issued a warning about a terror threat in Beijing
Young Chinese worshippers attend the Christmas Eve mass at a Catholic church in Beijing on December 24, 2015Image copyrightAFP/Getty Images
Image caption
Young Chinese worshippers attend the Christmas Eve Mass in China's capital
Iraq
Iraqi Christian priests hold a Christmas mass at the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Deliverance/Salvation (Sayidat al-Nejat), in central Baghdad, on December 24, 2015Image copyrightAFP/Getty Images
Image caption
Hundreds attended Mass at the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Deliverance/Salvation in central Baghdad
Iraqi Christians attend a Christmas mass at the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Deliverance/Salvation (Sayidat al-Nejat), in central Baghdad, on December 24, 2015.Image copyrightAFP/Getty Images
Image caption
Christians in Iraq have faced persecution by the so-called Islamic State
Indonesia
Christian faithfuls hold candles as they attend a mass service on Christmas eve in Surabaya on December 24, 2015.Image copyrightAFP/Getty Images
Image caption
Thousands of people held candles at a service in the city of Surabaya
An Indonesian boy holds the candle during a Christmas Eve mass at the Immanuel church in Jakarta, Indonesia, 24 December 2015Image copyrightEPA
Image caption
Indonesia was one of the first countries to mark Christmas Day
Australia
Marlies Noordeloos of the Netherlands, left, Lisa Van De Velde of Belgium, second left, Charlotte Trotter of Britain, second right, and Viktoria Sardarian of Lithuania wear Santa hats while in the surf at Bondi Beach celebrating Christmas Day in Sydney, Australia, Friday, Dec. 25, 2015Image copyrightRick Rycroft
Image caption
Tourists participate in traditional Christmas Day celebrations at Bondi Beach, Sydney
Bangladesh
A Bangladeshi man dressed as Father Christmas entertains children during an event to mark Christmas Day in Dhaka on December 25, 2015Image copyrightGetty Images

A Bangladeshi Father Christmas entertained children in the capital Dhaka