Christmas is marked across the world with a rich blend of faith, tradition and local culture. From midnight Mass and candlelit prayers to vibrant parades, decorations and family gatherings, the holiday reflects both its Christian roots and the unique customs of the societies that celebrate it.
These images capture how Christmas unfolds in different countries, shaped by history, culture and community spirit.
West Bank
Christian scouts march during Christmas Eve celebrations at the Manger Square outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. PHOTO: AFP
Scouts marched in Bethlehem on Wednesday, as the historic West Bank city emerged from the shadow of the Gaza genocide to celebrate its first festive Christmas in more than two years.
Throughout the genocide that intensified in October 2023, a sombre tone had marked Christmases in the biblical birthplace of Jesus Christ.
United States
Nativity scene set in Dedham, Massachusetts, with baby Jesus missing from it, a placquered saying
A nativity scene traditionally depicts the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, but this one in Dedham, a small town in Massachusetts, doesn’t show the baby. Instead, a board referring to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency’s presence here highlights a critique of mass deportations under the Trump administration, pointing to the irony of the revered figure of Christ being rejected from the United States on account of being an immigrant.
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon on Wednesday that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself.
Pope Leo XIV arrives to celebrate Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, December 24, 2025. PHOTO: REUTERS
