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France

French city creates giant nativity scene with 3,500 figures

The huge Christmas crib consists of clay figurines called "santons," which are traditional in southern France

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Austria's bad Santa

The traditional Krampus race in Hollabrunn's market square has delighted the hundreds of Austrians who have dared to attend.

Russia

Military themed Christmas decorations go on sale in Moscow

Shoppers in Russia seem to have mixed feelings about a set of military-themed Christmas decorations that have gone on sale in Moscow.

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Thanksgiving Day Parades take place in New York

The 2017 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has got underway in New York, with soaring balloons and high-stepping bands unleashed to entertain the city's crowded streets.

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Christmas tree delivery at The Vatican

A giant evergreen conifer is delivered to The Vatican as a gift to Pope Francis.

France

Paris lit up: glamour and protests

Lily Rose Depp pressed the button to light up the Champs-Elysées in Paris, amidst protests from fairground operators angry at the closure of their attractions.

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Melania Trump welcomes White House Christmas tree

An evergreen tree from Wisconsin was delivered by horse-drawn carriage to the White House in Washington, D.C.

Netherlands

Amsterdam changes helpers' costumes in attempt to address racism in Sinterklaas tradition

Amsterdam’s official Sinterklaas organization, the SSIA, believe the new “Chimney Piet” will make the Dutch tradition non-discriminatory for minority groups.

Destinations

Behind the scenes as the Four Seasons Hotel, Paris, gears up for Christmas

Turkey

Archaeologists 'discover' Santa Claus's grave in Turkey

The team claim remains previously thought to belong to St. Nicholas and taken to Italy were actually of a local priest

Russia

Russians attend midnight mass to mark Orthodox Christmas

Russian Orthodox Christians have been celebrating Christmas, attending special midnight mass held in churches and cathedrals across the country.

World News

Why do some Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas in January?

Each year on January 6 and 7 millions of Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate Christmas.

Spain

Tight security surrounds Madrid Eve of Epiphany parade

Madrid has held its annual Eve of Epiphany parade, with the biblical Three Wise Men taking centre stage and handing out sweets to thousands of children.

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Swimmers brave elements for festive Serpentine dip

Members of the Serpentine Swim Club braved the cold on Sunday for the traditional Christmas Day plunge into Serpentine Lake, in London’s Hyde Park.

Syria

Aleppo celebrates Christmas as Assad visits Damascus convent

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family visited a convent north of Damascus on Christmas day.

United Kingdom

UK: Queen misses Christmas church service due to a cold

Queen Elizabeth has missed the Christmas church service near her Sandringham country residence in eastern England for the first time in decades – because of a heavy…

Vatican

Pope Francis makes Christmas plea for peace

Pope Francis delivered words of hope and comfort, alongside pleas for peace, in his Christmas Day address.

Iraq

Iraq: Christmas services held in areas recently retaken from ISIL control

Iraqi Christians gathered for church services in Qaraqosh and Bashiqa, near Mosul in Niveneh province, for church services on 25 December.

Russia

Underwater Christmas Eve celebrations in subzero Lake Baikal

Russian divers stage a pre-New Year party underwater in Lake Baikal

World News

Australians hit the beaches to celebrate Christmas

Beachgoers celebrate Christmas Day in Sidney