Traditional celebrations

Bethlehem welcomes pilgrims for Christmas celebrations, Iraq protesters create Christmas tree out of flags and elephants in Santa Claus outfits make a season greetings’ performance in Thailand.

"The tradition is long-standing, beautiful and you can't find it anywhere else," said a villager.

Mexicans dressed as elegant skeletons took to the streets of their capital.

Sheep replaced traffic on the streets of Madrid on Sunday (October 20) as shepherds steered their flocks through the heart of the Spanish capital following ancient migration routes.

Of course, there are times when the wait staff at Oktoberfest have to deal with difficult customers. "I think if you just have good banter, or a 'mouth like a sword' as they say in Bavaria, you can actually get by quite well with that."

Organisers of the annual Tomatina festival tossed 145 tonnes of over-ripe tomatoes into the crowd, quickly converting the town into a red sea.

A Ukrainian town is so in love with its goats it holds an annual beauty contest for them. It's a must-see sight, goats in bright dresses, embroidered shirts, skirts and floral crowns. One is even dressed up as a bride. It's an event not to be missed.

Ornately-decorated floats paraded through Japan's ancient capital Kyoto on Wednesday at the climax of the annual Gion Festival.

The event is held to celebrate Saint Peter and the region's plentiful wine output.

The Ploughing Ceremony produced a prediction that there will be enough water for farming while rice, food, and fruits will be abundant this year.

A day after thousands of Thais celebrated the coronation of Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn, another group appeared to pay respect to the new king.

There are potatoes to fry for the feast, and heaping bunches of red carnations to lug up to the stone altar 3,800 meters (12,467 feet) above.

Thousands marked the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla in Mexico City on Sunday with a parade and reenactment of the famous 1862 battle, in which Mexican troops defeated the French army.

Hundreds of thousands of people joined the opening of the annual Seville Fair (Feria de Abril) this Sunday at midnight, marking the beginning of an entire week of dancing, drinking, eating, and socializing.

The Nai Sumo Baby Crying Festival takes place every year at the Sensoji Temple in Japan. According to tradition, Sumo wrestlers try to provoke the babies' cry to drive away from the demons that are close to them.

Here's our selection of this week's best no comment videos.

The animals showed no mercy as they slurped up water and sprayed children and adults alike to help them cool off.

Dancing, singing and drinking rice wine, people of ethnic minorities in south China's Hainan Province celebrated their traditional "Sanyuesan Festival" on Sunday.

Thousands of people from all over the world on Thursday smeared each other with colours during the Indian festival of Holi.

Hundreds of tourists and local residents, many dressed in white, climbed the towering Pyramid of the Sun on Thursday to celebrate the Spring Equinox.

Fireworks and flames took over central Valencia on Tuesday (March 19) as locals and thousands of tourists celebrated the end of a four-day festival with the burning of over 380 ornate and colourful monuments made up of giant figures known as ninots, in the "Crema de Fallas" (burning of the fallas).

Chicago river turns green for St Patrick's Day

Residents of the Greek mountain town of Sochos, northeast of Thessaloniki, celebrated the beginning of Lent on Monday with a carnival and procession dating back to ancient times.

Thousands of people flocked to view a camel fighting spectacle in the Pakistani city of Layyah, despite a ban on such events