Images: Christmas Eve around the world

The children's choir performs Thursday at a Christmas service at Hosanna! Lutheran Church in St. Charles. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

Sr. Pastor John Nelson carries a shepherd lawn ornament through the congregation Thursday at a Christmas service at Hosanna! Lutheran Church in St. Charles. He was telling the congregants of the birth of Jesus Christ, as the shepherd did when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

Parents record the performance of the children's choir Thursday at a Christmas service at Hosanna! Lutheran Church in St. Charles. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

A xylophone is part of the Praise Team performance Thursday at a Christmas service at Hosanna! Lutheran Church in St. Charles. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

The children's choir performs Christmas Ever at Hosanna! Lutheran Church in St. Charles. The choir has around 70 singers. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

Pam Rohde of Lombard plays the bells at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church ofLombard Thursday. A Christmas Eve children's service was held where children participated in leading the liturgy and the Joyful Juniors Children's Choir. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com

Max McDermott, 8, and his mother, Jamie, hug as they listen to Thursday's Christmas Eve service at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Lombard. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com

Pastor Robert Braband leads the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Lombard Christmas Eve service. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com

Worshippers gather at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Lombard Christmas Eve. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lombard held a Christmas Eve Children's service Thursday. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com

Pastor Robert Braband reads a Christmas story to children at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Lombard's Christmas Eve Children's service. Paul Michna/pmichna@dailyherald.com

Susan Leuck of Kenosha, Wis., gets into the Christmas spirit with a Santa hat while packing meals with her brother Eric Leuck of Vernon Hills, and the rest of the family, at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville on Christmas Eve. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com

Six-year-old Annaleise Knight from Grayslake helps pack meals with her family at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville on Christmas Eve. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com

Corey McMahon of Glenview throws his hands up after finishing packing meals with his family at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville on Christmas Eve. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com

Madison Olszewski of Crystal Lake helps her family pack meals at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville on Christmas Eve. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com

Brian Beach of Kelowna, British Columbia, plays with his granddaughter Olivia Beach, daughter of Chicago Wolves forward Cody Beach, in the Holiday Village at the Legoland Discovery Center in Schaumburg on Christmas Eve. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com

Four-year-old Cambrian Styles, her mom, Ashley, and brother, Lucas, enjoy the Holiday Village at Legoland Discovery Center in Schaumburg on Christmas Eve. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com

Carmella and Sean Riley of Los Angeles admire Mini-Land Chicago at Legoland Discovery Center in Schaumburg on Thursday. Bob Chwedyk/bchwedyk@dailyherald.com

Chinese bishop Joseph Li Shan, center, holds a statue of the baby Jesus as he arrives for a Christmas Eve mass at the Southern Cathedral, an officially-sanctioned Catholic church in Beijing, China, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Associated Press

Chinese choir members sing during a Christmas Eve mass at the Southern Cathedral, an officially-sanctioned Catholic church in Beijing, China, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Associated Press

Cross-bearers wait to take part in a Christmas Eve mass at the Southern Cathedral, an officially-sanctioned Catholic church in Beijing, China, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Associated Press

Shoppers look for a Christmas tree to buy on Christmas Eve in central Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Iran's population of 80 million includes about 120,000 Christians mostly Armenian ethnicity. Iranian Christians have three representatives in the parliament and freely practice their religion as allowed under the constitution. Associated Press

An Iranian couple take selfie with Christmas items of a shop on Christmas Eve in central Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Iran's population of 80 million includes about 120,000 Christians mostly Armenian ethnicity. Iranian Christians have three representatives in the parliament and freely practice their religion as allowed under the constitution. Associated Press

Two shop workers fix a sale sign onto their shop window on Regent Street in London, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. In Britain Dec 26, known as Boxing Day is the traditional start for shops to start their big sales of old stock. Associated Press

A man dressed in a Santa Claus costume, crosses a street in Nice, Southeastern France, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Associated Press

Israeli Arab Christians, one dressed up as Santa Claus, wait for the start of the annual Christmas parade in in the northern Israeli city of Nazareth, Israel, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Associated Press

Israeli Arab Christians perform at the annual Christmas parade in in the northern Israeli city of Nazareth, Israel, on Christmas Eve, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Associated Press

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Fouad Twal, center, arrives at the Church of the Nativity, built atop the site where Christians believe Jesus Christ was born, on Christmas Eve, in the West Bank City of Bethlehem, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Associated Press

Indians light candles and offer prayers on the eve of Christmas at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Though the Hindus and Muslims comprise majority of the population in India, Christmas is a national holiday celebrated with much fanfare. Associated Press

A man poses for a photo beneath a human statue dressed as Santa Claus, suspended in the air, in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Spaniards traditionally celebrate with a Christmas dinner on the night of Christmas eve with presents given after the dinner and also on Jan. 6 when many Christians annually celebrate Epiphany. Associated Press

Girls from Pakistani Christian community decorate their home for the upcoming Christmas holiday in Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Associated Press

Hundreds of volunteers clad in Santa Claus costumes throw their hats in the air during a Christmas charity event as they gather to deliver gifts for the poor in downtown Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Associated Press

Filipinos crowd a store that is popular in selling hams as they do last-minute shopping on Christmas eve in Manila, Philippines, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. The predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines boasts of having the longest Christmas celebration that starts every last quarter of the year. Associated Press

A man dressed as Santa Claus lights flares as he sits on a boat toed by swimmers, in Imperia, near Genoa, Italy, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Associated Press

George Aguiar, right, and his children snack on cooked shrimp during a visit to the Maine Avenue Fish Market in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015, as unseasonably warm temperatures rise into the 70's on Christmas Eve. The open-air market was filled with customers picking out crabs, oysters, shrimp and fish for a traditional Christmas Eve meal. Associated Press

Indian Christian devotees and others watch a fireworks display marking Christmas eve outside Saint Peter's Church in Allahabad, India , Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Though the Hindus and Muslims comprise majority of the population in India, Christmas is a national holiday celebrated with much fanfare. Associated Press

Pope Francis holds the pastoral staff as he celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Associated Press

Pope Francis incenses a statue of Baby Jesus as he celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Associated Press

Pope Francis celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015. Associated Press