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World News

Trolls, carps and defecating shepherds: How Europe toasts Christmas

We take a look at how Christmas is marked in Italy, Spain, Iceland and the Czech Republic. It's anything but universal!

Culture news

'Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal': The six best Christmas movies

It's Christmas! Well, almost. Time to get cosy and press play on these classic festive films. Or you can watch Bad Santa...

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Santa Claus climbs down building to visit children in a Spanish hospital

Children spending the holidays in a hospital in Barcelona get a much-needed boost from a firefighter dressed as Santa Claus, who greets them from outside a hospital window while hanging from a climbing rope outside the building, due to strict pandemic rules restricting visitors

Food and Drink

Visit the birthplace of Sweden's festive peppermint candy canes

In 1859, a new confection emerged on the market in the small town of Gränna, Sweden. It was a hard, minty candy with red and white stripes, created by Amalia Eriksson

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Culture news

Santa Claus or Spiderman? Kids spending Xmas in hospital get a treat

A firefighter dressed as Santa Claus climbed down the wall of a children's hospital in Barcelona to surprise those spending Christmas there.

Spain

Spain's Christmas can be boisterous, banging and, at times, bizarre

Spain’s boisterous take on the holiday could almost be mistaken for irreverence. It's summed up by the caganer or defecating shepherd, which can be found in nativity scenes across the country.

Greece

Athens cautious as Greece prepares for another Christmas with COVID

Locals in Athens tell Euronews they are staying away from large crowds during the Christmas period.

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One of Europe's biggest and oldest lottery draws kicks off in Madrid

One of Europe's biggest and oldest lottery draws kicks off in Madrid

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NGO brings holiday cheer to Sao Paulo homeless

Santa Claus delivered a bit of Christmas cheer Tuesday to homeless people in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, where thousands live in gritty and harsh conditions in the streets.

Russia

Christmas trees from around the world light up Moscow festival

People in Moscow are being treated to a spectacular display of Christmas trees themed on cities from around the world, an attempt to cheer up Russians as the COVID pandemic continues to restrict travel this holiday season.

Green News

Our top tips on how to avoid Christmas card waste

An average of 1 billion Christmas cards are thrown away every year in the UK alone.

Spain

Spain's €2.4 billion Christmas lottery offers distraction from COVID-1

Spain's €2.4 billion Christmas lottery offers a distraction from pandemic

Partner content

Christmas desert: how Dubai celebrates the festive season

Partner content presented by Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing Dubai

From a skydiving Santa, to sleighs on water, in this episode of Postcards we find out how people in Dubai are getting wrapped up in the holiday spirit.

Design

Ice sculptors transform Russian city into winter wonderland

Working in sub-zero temperatures, ice sculptors have turned the Siberian city of Tomsk into a festive paradise through the city's annual design competition.

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Cali zoo animals receive gifts to celebrate Christmas

Animals at the Cali Zoo in Colombia receive gifts with their favorite foods as part of the traditional Christmas celebration.

Residences

Rome at Christmas: An insider’s guide to December in the Eternal City

For a foodie break with a side of culture, you can't beat Rome.

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Santa Claus roams Christian town of Iraq, "putting smiles on children's faces"

Locals dressed up as Santa Claus roam the streets of al-Hamdaniya, a Christian town overrun by the Islamic State group in 2014, in the Nineveh governorate of Iraq, distributing sweets to children to "put a smile on their faces".

World News

Better to cancel Christmas events than grieve later, warns WHO chief

"An event cancelled is better than a life cancelled," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Monday, highlighting data suggesting Omicron spreads "significantly faster" than the Delta variant.

United Kingdom

Queen Elizabeth II to skip Christmas trip amid Omicron surge

Queen Elizabeth II has decided not to spend Christmas at the royal Sandringham estate in eastern England.

Germany

Germany remembers victims of 2016 Christmas market attack in Berlin

"The state has not been able to keep its promise of protection, security, and freedom," said Germany's president as the country commemorated the fifth anniversary of the 2016 Christmas market attack in Berlin.