Images: Christmas around the world

Italian traveler Alberto Pintauro wears a Santa's hat as he kicks a soccer ball while celebrating Christmas Day at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014. Associated Press

Pope Francis kisses a statue of Baby Jesus as he celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Pope Francis is celebrating Christmas Eve with a late-night Mass in St. Peter's Basilica and a phone call to some Iraqi refugees forced to flee their homes by Muslim militants. Francis told refugees at the tent camp in Ankawa, a suburb of Irbil in northern Iraq, that they were like Jesus, forced to flee because there was no place for them. For Christians, Christmas marks the birth of Jesus in a Bethlehem barn manger, chosen because there was no room for his parents at an inn. Associated Press

Children dressed as angels take part in a mass on the eve of Christmas at the South Cathedral official Catholic church in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Estimates for the number of Christians in China range from the conservative official figure of 23 million to as many as 100 million by independent scholars, raising the possibility that Christians may rival in size the 85 million members of the ruling Communist Party. Associated Press

Members of the Serpentine Swimming Club line up for the start of the traditional Christmas Day swimming race in Hyde Park's Serpentine lake, London, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014. Associated Press

Catholics attend mass on the eve of Christmas at the South Cathedral official Catholic church in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Estimates for the number of Christians in China range from the conservative official figure of 23 million to as many as 100 million by independent scholars, raising the possibility that Christians may rival in size the 85 million members of the ruling Communist Party. Associated Press

People stroll near the water in Neptune Beach, Fla., Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Associated Press

Children look at a statue of Baby Jesus during the Christmas Eve Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Eve with a late-night Mass in St. Peter's Basilica and a phone call to some Iraqi refugees forced to flee their homes by Muslim militants. Francis told refugees at the tent camp in Ankawa, a suburb of Irbil in northern Iraq, that they were like Jesus, forced to flee because there was no place for them. For Christians, Christmas marks the birth of Jesus in a Bethlehem barn manger, chosen because there was no room for his parents at an inn. Associated Press

Children wait to take part in Christmas Eve mass at the South Cathedral official Catholic church in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Estimates for the number of Christians in China range from 23 million to as many as 100 million. Associated Press

An Indian Christan comes out from an illuminated Church on the eve of Christmas in Ahmedabad, India, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Christmas is a national holiday in India, marked by millions of all religions and faiths. Associated Press

A man dressed as the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus poses for photographs during the early hours of Christmas Day celebrations in the Causeway Bay shopping district in Hong Kong Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014. Associated Press

Surf life savers Nick Nezval, left, and Dori Miller wear Christmas hats as they patrol the beach as others celebrate Christmas Day at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014. Associated Press

Children dressed as angels take part in a mass on the eve of Christmas at the South Cathedral official Catholic church in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Estimates for the number of Christians in China range from the conservative official figure of 23 million to as many as 100 million by independent scholars, raising the possibility that Christians may rival in size the 85 million members of the ruling Communist Party. Associated Press

In this photo taken Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014, Bosnian Catholic women in traditional dress attend Midnight Mass at a church in the central Bosnian town of Kraljeva Sutjeska, north of Sarajevo. Associated Press

In this photo taken Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014, Bosnian Catholic women in traditional dress prepare a traditional Christmas eve dinner at the home of Janja Vuletic in the central Bosnian town of Kraljeva Sutjeska, north of Sarajevo. Associated Press

Britain's Prince William, left, and his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge arrive to attend the British royal family's traditional Christmas Day church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, England, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014. Associated Press

British traveler Dabriella Quayle rides the waves while celebrating Christmas Day at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014. Associated Press

An Indian Christian holds a crucifix during Christmas prayers at St. Mary's Garrison Church in Jammu, India, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014. Associated Press

Liberian men shop for a Christmas tree at a shop in Monrovia, Liberia, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. The deadly Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone means no festive parties at the beach and no carolers singing at night. Authorities this year have banned any activities that could further the spread of the highly contagious virus now blamed for killing more than 7,000 people in West Africa over the past year. Associated Press

Iraqi Christians shop Christmas decoration items in central Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Although the number of Christians has dropped in Iraq, Christmas, a national holiday in Iraq, is very popular in the capital. Associated Press

Children dressed as angels take part in a mass on the eve of Christmas at the South Cathedral official Catholic church in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Estimates for the number of Christians in China range from the conservative official figure of 23 million to as many as 100 million by independent scholars, raising the possibility that Christians may rival in size the 85 million members of the ruling Communist Party. Associated Press

A man dressed as Santa Claus lights flares as he stands on a boat in Imperia, near Genoa, Italy, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Associated Press

Iraqi Christians attend a Christmas Eve mass at Our Lady of Salvation in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Iraqi Christians gathered for Christmas Eve services amid tight security. Associated Press

Priests and clergy attend the Christmas celebration midnight Mass at the Cathedral-Basilical in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Over 80 percent of Lithuanians are Christians who celebrate the festival of Christmas on Dec. 25. Associated Press

Pakistani Christians prepare a Christmas tree at an enclosure in preparation for Christmas in Islamabad's slums, Pakistan, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Associated Press

Chinese bishop Joseph Li Shan places a statue of baby Jesus in a replica of a stable as he takes part in a mass on the eve of Christmas at the South Cathedral official Catholic church in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Estimates for the number of Christians in China range from the conservative official figure of 23 million to as many as 100 million by independent scholars, raising the possibility that Christians may rival in size the 85 million members of the ruling Communist Party. Associated Press

Volunteer Patty Shook takes a phone call from a child asking where Santa is and when he will deliver presents to her home, inside a phone-in center during the annual NORAD Tracks Santa Operation, at the North American Aerospace Defense Command, at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2014. Patty and her husband, Bryan, who is retired from the Air Force, have been volunteering at NORAD each Christmas Eve for five years, fielding calls from children from all over the world eager to hear about Santa's progress. Associated Press