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 CHRISTMAS SEASON 2023 

Christians around the world have joined in collective celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Take a look:
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In Kenya's western city of Kisumu, hundreds of Legio Maria Church members gathered in the town of Ugunja as part of Christmas Day and organized a march with their colorful costumes.

In Tunisia's capital Tunis, Christmas Mass was held at the Cathedral of Saint Vincent de Paul.

In India, this Christian devotee prayed during a Christmas Mass on a cold winter morning in Chandigarh.

In Vatican City, Christmas Mass was held at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, with Pope Francis leading the Mass.

In Kosovo, a child yawned as she attended Christmas Eve Mass, marking the birth of Jesus Christ, at Mother Teresa Cathedral in Pristina.

Also in Pristina, this Kosovar child dressed as an angel attends Christmas Eve Mass.

In Pakistan, a Christian devotee prayed as she attended a Christmas Mass at St. Joseph's Cathedral church in Rawalpindi.

And in India, Christian devotees prayed at a Christmas Mass at St. Patricks church in Chennai.

In Canada, people took part in the Christmas Eve service at the Cathedral Church of St. James in Toronto, Ontario.

In the State of Palestine, dolls and statues of Jesus Christ and clergymen in rubbles were seen at the square in front of the  Church of the Nativity,  the birthplace of Jesus Bethlehem,  Israeli-occupied West Bank,  on Christmas Eve. Church leaders decided to cancel the annual Christmas holiday celebrations due to the Israel-Hamas War.

In Polan, people took part in the midnight Mass celebrating Christmas, in Krakow.

In Germany, the faithful listened to the sermon by Otto Georgens, Auxiliary Bishop, during the Christmas Mass inside Speyer Cathedral in Rhineland-Palatinate, Speyer.

In Belgium, this illustration picture shows the celebration of the Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve at the Kathedraal van Sint-Michiel en Sint-Goedele.

In Russia, Metropolitan Archbishop Paolo Pezzi of Moscow's Roman Catholic Archdiocese conducted a Christmas Eve Mass at the Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Virgin Mary in Moscow.

In Turkey, the Christmas Mass was held at the Saint Esprit Church, in Istanbul.

 In the occupied West Bank, nuns prayed inside the Grotto, believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the Church of the Nativity in the biblical city of Bethlehem.

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, led the Christmas morning Mass at the Saint Catherine's Church.

In Qatar, worshippers attended Christmas service at the Greek Orthodox Church Saint Andrews in Baghdad.

In Egypt, people attended the Mass, held at the Church of the Virgin Mary, for Christmas in Cairo.

In Sri Lanka, Christians devotees prayed during a Christmas Mass in Halpe.

Also in Sri Lanka, Christian devotees gathered around a nativity scene during a Christmas Mass at the Saint Francis Xavier's Church in Halpe.

In Australia, this man dressed as Santa Claus rode a boat with his dog in front of the Sydney Opera House, as part of Christmas Day celebrations for the annual Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Also in Australia, this surfer dressed in a Christmas outfit rode a wave at Bondi Beach in Sydney.

In India, Santa Claus rode past cyclists along a street engulfed in fog on Christmas in New Delhi.

In Peru, Police officers from the traffic squad with Christmas costumes travelled by motorcycle through the streets delivering gifts to children and doing stunts through the streets of the capital, Lima.

In Philippines, people rested while they waited for their trip at the Manila North Port Passenger Terminal on Christmas Day.

In The Netherlands, hundreds of people gathered for a rally in support for Gaza, on Christmas Eve in Amsterdam. They marched to Dam Square, where a silent vigil with candles and prayers for peace unfolded.

In China, people celebrated Christmas Eve amid artificial snowflakes at a shopping mall in Liangjiang New District, in Chongqing.

In Germany, ice floes float at night on the Spitzingsee, which is 1084 meters above sea level. The nights after Christmas Eve are also known as the Rauhnächte, that is, from December 25 until January 6.

In China, citizens eat at a restaurant on Christmas Eve in Beijing.

In Germany, Police were seen surrounding the Cologne Dom Cathedral in Cologne, Germany, on Christma Eve amid concerns of a possible terror attack.

In China, people played with bubbles at a shopping mall in Hong Kong.

In Indonesia, people swam and soaked in a hot spring pool in the Pacet tourist area in Mojokerto, East Java Province. The Pacet tourist area is a popular spot where people visit during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

In Mexico, Haitian migrants gathered outside a crowded shelter in the Tlahuac Forest in Mexico City during Christmas, attempting to mobilize and carry out a procedure at the facilities of the Mexican Commission for Aid to Refugees. They are seeking to extend their stay in Mexico due to the challenges their compatriots face entering the United States. They are also waiting for a permit or ''Visitor Card for Humanitarian Reasons'' that would allow them to access health services and employment opportunities in Mexico, where they can receive care and continue their journey to the border.