Photos: Christmas celebrations from around the world

With the new Omicron variant, COVID-19 clouds celebrations for second year

Last updated: December 25, 2021 | 16:07

Compiled by Nathaniel Lacsina, Senior Web Editor

2 MIN READ

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People walk past Christmas and New Year decorations in downtown Moscow.

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A child dressed in festive clothing looks on as people gather during Christmas at the West Kowloon cultural district in Hong Kong.

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Pope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for 'to the city and to the world' ) Christmas' day blessing from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

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Christian worshippers attend a Christmas day mass at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Virgin Mary in the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli in Syria's northeastern Hasakeh province.

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Devotees, wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, pray during a Christmas day mass at the Quiapo church in Manila, Philippines. Filipino Catholics were relieved to be able to return to churches on Christmas although only a fraction was allowed inside and all worshipers were required to wear face masks and stand at a safe distance from each other.

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Residents wearing masks skate on ice during Christmas Day at a mall in Beijing, China.

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Christian worshippers attend a Christmas day mass at the Sultana Rosary Church in the Karrada district of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

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Christian devotees attend a prayer service at Sacred Heart Cathedral to celebrate Christmas in Lahore, Pakistan.

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Pope Francis holds a figurine of baby Jesus during the Christmas Eve mass at St Peter's basilica in the Vatican.

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An Iraqi Christian man and a woman dressed up like Santa Claus distributes gifts to children after a mass during Christmas celebrations at St George Chaldean Church in Baghdad, Iraq .

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Christian devotees attend a Christmas mass at a church in Ahmedabad, India.

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An Indian Christian girl participates in Christmas celebrations at a church in Ahmedabad, India.

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Worshippers sing and dance during a church service on Christmas day on the outskirts of Harare, Zimbabwe.

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An Indian Christian devotee kisses the feet of a statue of infant Jesus after attending a Christmas mass at a church in Gauhati, India.

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Junior doctor Tom Ballas looks into the room of a patient as doctors and nurses share a Christmas Eve meal together in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at la Timone hospital in Marseille, southern France.

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A priest leads a Christmas Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Islamabad, Pakistan.

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Devotees offer prayers during mass on Christmas, at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Guwahati, India.

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Christian worshippers attend a Christmas day mass at the Church of Nativity during Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem.

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Christian devotees receive Eucharist after offering prayers during a service to mark Christmas at a church in Amritsar, India.

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A man holds his child as they attend Mass on Christmas at Alexander Nevski cathedral, amid the spread of theÊcoronavirusÊdisease (COVID-19) pandemic in Sofia, Bulgaria.

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