Christmas is upon us, and around the world people are gathering together to celebrate the birth of Christ. From the Philippines to Paris, from the Vatican to Venezuela, Christmas is here! Here are some of our favorite images:
People play a nativity scene during the unveiling ceremony of the crib in St Peter's Square at the Vatican, on December 24, 2013. Pope Francis visited his predecessor Benedict XVI yesterday for an informal Christmas greeting, as the Argentine pontiff prepares to celebrate his first Christmas as leader of the world's Roman Catholics.
A woman lights a candle in Saint Anthony of Padua Church in Istanbul on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2013.
Palestinian Christian scouts perform in Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, during Christmas celebrations in the West Bank biblical town of Bethlehem on December 24, 2013. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas urged Christian pilgrims from around the world to visit the Holy Land to mark the visit of Pope Francis, set for 2014, in a Christmas message.
An Indonesian nun cleans statues at a church in Banda Aceh as they prepare for Christmas eve in Banda Aceh on December 24, 2013. Indonesian Christians will celebrate Christmas amid a warning on December 12 from Indonesian police that Islamic extremists may be planning to target worshippers during Christmas and New Years celebrations in the capital Jakarta and other parts of the country.
In this picture provided by the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, left, welcomes Pope Francis as they exchanged Christmas greetings, at the Vatican, Monday, Dec. 23, 2013.
The water skiing Santa Clause heads down the Potomoc River on December 24, 2013 at National Harbor, Maryland, near Washington. The group of volunteers are celebrating their 28th anniversary of the event that also has kneeboarding reindeer, flying elves, the jet-skiing Grinch, and Frosty the snowman.
Visitors take a picture of Christmas illuminations, lit by 280,000 LED lights, at Tokyo Midtown business and commercial complex in Tokyo, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2013.
A group of Christian people living in West Bank protest the conflict between Israel and Palestine with the action of Light a Candle before the Christmas greetings in Bethlehem.
Indian Christians hold candles ahead of Christmas in Ahmadabad, India, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Though Hindus and Muslims comprise the majority of the population in India, Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare.
Christmas 2013 Around The World
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