Current:Home > InvestPhotos of Christmas 2023 around the world-LoTradeCoin
Photos of Christmas 2023 around the world
View Date:2024-12-23 21:22:01
Families around the world are marking Christmas Day with traditions both ancient and new — from church services to icy swim races. The Christian holiday honoring the birth of Jesus of Nazareth is celebrated by billions worldwide, and while customs vary in different cultures, the universal theme of the holiday is love and joy — shadowed this year by the toll of war in the Middle East, Ukraine and other conflicts across the globe.
Here is a look at scenes of Christmas 2023 worldwide, beginning with a blessing from Pope Francis, who delivered his annual Christmas message calling for peace from St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.
Observances in Bethlehem, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, were subdued amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Many public celebrations were canceled, and one church displayed a Nativity scene showing the baby Jesus wrapped in a keffiyeh and surrounded by rubble.
Britain's King Charles used his annual Christmas message to encourage caring and compassion, and gathered with members of the royal family for church services at their Sandringham estate.
Ukraine celebrated Christmas on Dec. 25 instead of the traditional Orthodox date of Jan, 7 for the first time, after the government changed the date in a snub to Russia, which invaded the country nearly two years ago.
It was a foggy Christmas morning in New York City.
NORAD, the the joint U.S.-Canadian military monitoring agency, continued its decades-long Christmas tradition of tracking Santa's journey around the globe.
Some people marked the occasion with a festive but frigid dip in the ocean.
More photos of Christmas celebrations around the world:
- In:
- Christmas
veryGood! (9645)
Related
- Burger King's 'Million Dollar Whopper' finalists: How to try and vote on your favorite
- New 'Joker' movie trailer shows Joaquin Phoenix's return for 'Folie à Deux' sequel
- Vermont’s Goddard College to close after years of declining enrollment and financial struggles
- Mom left kids for dead on LA freeway after she committed murder, cops believe
- Inter Miami's MLS playoff failure sets stage for Messi's last act, Alexi Lalas says
- Biden's latest student-loan forgiveness plan brings questions for borrowers: What to know
- 1 person airlifted, 10 others injured after school bus overturns in North Carolina
- What to know about the Arizona Supreme Court ruling that reinstates an 1864 near-total abortion ban
- Opinion: Chris Wallace leaves CNN to go 'where the action' is. Why it matters
- Men's national championship game has lower viewership than women's for first time
Ranking
- Larry Hobbs, who guided AP’s coverage of Florida news for decades, has died at 83
- Devin Booker Responds to Rumor He Wears a Hairpiece
- Review: Why Amazon's 'Fallout' adaptation is so much flippin' fun (the Ghoul helps)
- New WIC rules include more money for fruits and vegetables for low-income families
- Chris Wallace will leave CNN 3 years after defecting from 'Fox News Sunday'
- Prosecutors recommend delaying the bribery trial of Sen. Bob Menendez from May to a summer date
- Will Jim Nantz call 2024 Masters? How many tournaments the veteran says he has left
- Megan Thee Stallion Says She Wasn't Treated as Human After Tory Lanez Shooting
Recommendation
-
These Michael Kors’ Designer Handbags Are All Under $150 With an Extra 22% off for Singles’ Day
-
Starting over: Women emerging from prison face formidable challenges to resuming their lives
-
New 'Joker' movie trailer shows Joaquin Phoenix's return for 'Folie à Deux' sequel
-
Atlanta family raises money, seeks justice after innocent bystander dies in police pursuit
-
Paraguay vs. Argentina live updates: Watch Messi play World Cup qualifying match tonight
-
Abortion in Arizona set to be illegal in nearly all circumstances, state high court rules
-
Are casino workers entitled to a smoke-free workplace? The UAW thinks so.
-
Starting over: Women emerging from prison face formidable challenges to resuming their lives