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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.

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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

USA

Water-skiing Santa and flying elves celebrate Christmas down the Potomac

The Water-skiing Santa and his flying elves, the Grinch and his friends, dazzle spectators with their water skills.

World News

Bethlehem celebrates Christmas

Tourists from around the world join locals to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem, the town where Christians say Jesus was born.

Vatican

Pope Francis says Christmas "taken hostage" by materialism at Christmas Mass

Pope Francis has given his fourth Christmas Mass from St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

World News

Europe on edge: Tight security amid Christmas terror fears

In the season of peace and goodwill, Europe is taking no chances.

World News

Christmas Eve crowds flock to Bethlehem

Christian pilgrims from around the world have been gathering this Christmas Eve in Bethlehem – revered as the birthplace of Jesus.

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Santa sets off

‘Santa Claus’ has begun his journey to deliver Christmas gifts to children all over the world, leaving his home in the Finnish town of Rovaniemi on Friday evening (23 December) under a spectacular sho

World News

Berlin truck attack: Three detained in Tunisia 'including suspect's nephew'

Tunisia has arrested three suspected jihadists said to be linked to supposed Berlin truck attacker Anis Amri.