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Images: Christmas Eve around the globe

The Vatican gendarmerie (police and security force) band plays as the nativity scene is unveiled in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Associated Press
Dancers impersonating Mary, Joseph and St. Francis perform in front of the Nativity scene unveiled in St.Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. 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, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Associated Press
Pope Francis celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Pope Francis has begun celebrating his first Christmas Eve Mass as pontiff by placing a baby Jesus statue in a replica of a manger in St. Peter’s Basilica. Associated Press
A worker carries roasted pig outside a store in Quezon city, north of Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Roasted pig is traditionally served during a Christmas eve dinner called “Noche Buena” in this predominantly Roman Catholic nation. Associated Press
Filipino hairdressers wear Santa hats as they cut hair during Christmas eve at a shop in downtown Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Christmas is one of the most important holidays in this predominantly Roman Catholic nation. Associated Press
Pakistani Christians play cards on a roadside near their neighborhood ahead of Christmas in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Christians are a minority in Pakistan, they constitute about 1.6% of the Pakistanís population. Associated Press
Employees dressed as Santa Claus perform as part of a shopping mall’s Christmas celebrations in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. A lot of South Korean companies take advantage of the Christmas to promote their business amid weak sales and economic slowdown. Associated Press
Pakistani Christian Salamat Masih prepares a scene of nativity for Christmas celebrations in the slums of Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Christians are a minority in Pakistan, they constitute about 1.6% of the Pakistanís population. Associated Press
Pakistani Christian children play in their neighborhood ahead of Christmas in Islamabad, Pakistan, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Christians are a minority in Pakistan, they constitute about 1.6% of the Pakistanís population. Associated Press
A Pakistani church employee prepares for Christmas mass in Peshawar, Pakistan, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Christians are a minority in Pakistan, they constitute about 1.6% of the Pakistanís population. Associated Press
A Christian pilgrim touches a column inside the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Associated Press
Christians pilgrim worshippers visit the Grotto of the Church of Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Associated Press
Christian worshippers visit the Church of Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Associated Press
Christian worshippers from Nigeria pray at the Church of Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Associated Press
A Dutch family, light candles in front of a Nativity scene at the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Church of Visitation, also known as St. Mary’s Visitation Church, in preparation for Christmas in the northern West Bank village of Zababdeh near Jenin, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Associated Press
A couple poses in front of the Christmas illuminations for souvenir photos at Tokyo’s Daiba bay area, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Associated Press
Members of Indonesian Police bomb squad search for suspicious materials to anticipate terror attacks prior to the Christmas Eve mass at the cathedral in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Since the Bali bombings in 2002, the world’s largest Muslim country has been battling terrorists who recently operate in small groups and have targeted security forces and local “infidels” instead of Westerners. Associated Press
In this Monday Dec. 23, 2013, photo, Indian Christians illuminate a 23 feet (7 meter) huge star on the terrace of their residential building in Ahmadabad, India. Although Christians comprise only two percent of the Indian population but Christmas is a national holiday and is observed across the country as an occasion to celebrate. Associated Press
An Indian man dressed as Santa Claus distributes sweets among people in a car ahead of Christmas in Umsning, in Meghalaya, India, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Though Hindus and Muslims comprise the majority of the population in India, Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare. Associated Press
Indian people sing as they walk with a man dressed as Santa Claus ahead of Christmas in Umsning, in Meghalaya, India, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Though Hindus and Muslims comprise the majority of the population in India, Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare. Associated Press
Indian Christians hold candles ahead of Christmas in Ahmadabad, India, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Though Hindus and Muslims comprise the majority of the population in India, Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare. Associated Press
Indian Christian people light candles and pray at the illuminated Sacred Heartís Cathedral on Christmas Eve in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Though Hindus and Muslims comprise the majority of the population in India, Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare. Associated Press
Visitors play with shredded paper and Christmas decorations during Christmas eve at a shopping mall in Hong Kong,Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Associated Press
A couple look at the illuminated decoration to celebrate the festival season during Christmas eve in Hong Kong,Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Associated Press
A couple dressed as Santa Claus deliver candies to visitors at the waterfront of Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong during Christmas eve as they are celebrating the festival season,Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Associated Press
Indian children dressed as Santa Claus dance in front of a sculpture titled World Peace by sand artist Sudarshan Patnaik ahead of Christmas at a beach in Puri, in the eastern Indian city of Bhubaneswar, India, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. Though Hindus and Muslims comprise the majority of the population in India, Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare. Associated Press
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