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In pictures: Christmas celebrations around the world

People across the world are celebrating one of the holiest times in the Christian calendar. But this year's church services and events (Christmas Day is celebrated by western churches on 25 December but by eastern churches on 7 January) are being attended by far fewer people because of the coronavirus outbreak. Social distancing and wearing masks are now the new must in many places.

News imageReuters People wear Christmas-themed attire at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. Photo: 25 December 2020Reuters
In Australia, Christmas-themed attire was popular among swimmers at Sydney's famous Bondi Beach
News imageEPA Pope Francis leads a Christmas Eve Mass at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. Photo: 24 December 2020EPA
Pope Francis led a Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican before a drastically reduced congregation
News imageGareth Fuller/PA Wire The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, wearing a protective face mask and gloves, during the Christmas Day service at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent.Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
The Archbishop of Canterbury wore a protective face mask and gloves during a Christmas Day service in the UK
News imageGetty Images Indonesian Christians wear protective masks and practice social distancing as they pray during the Christmas mass at Immanuel Church amid the COVID-19 pandemic on December 25, 2020 in Jakarta, Indonesia.Getty Images
These Christians in the Indonesian capital Jakarta observed social distancing at a Christmas Mass
News imageGetty Images A worshipper wearing a plastic visor and face mask prays during Christmas Day Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral on December 25, 2020 in Tokyo, Japan.Getty Images
Worshippers in Tokyo also observed coronavirus measures
News imageGetty Images Worshippers of Legio Maria wearing face mask as a preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19 attend the Christmas prayer at their church in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, on December 25, 2020.Getty Images
These women in Kenya's Kibera slum wore masks during Christmas prayers
News imageGetty Images A worker operates a camera for the live broadcast of a Christmas service being streamed online from Yoido Full Gospel Church as measures are taken to protect against the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) on December 25, 2020 in Seoul, South Korea.Getty Images
In South Korea, a Christmas service from the Yoido Full Gospel Church was streamed online
News imageEPA Children light candles at the entrance gate of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi, India. Photo: 24 December 2020EPA
In India, children lit candles at the entrance gate of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi
News imageGetty Images People during the Christmas Mass, in Kolkata, India, on December 25, 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic.Getty Images
This woman wore a mask to attend a service in Kolkata
News imageReuters Women wear face masks as they pray during a Christmas Eve Mass in St Andrew's Church in Karachi, Pakistan. Photo: 24 December 2020Reuters
These women prayed silently during the service in St Andrew's Church in Karachi, Pakistan
News imageReuters People gathered around a fire during a Mass in the Virgin Mary Church in Baghdad, Iraq. Photo: 24 December 2020Reuters
In Iraq, people gathered around a fire during a Mass in the Virgin Mary Church in the capital Baghdad
News imageEPA Elderly residents and a nurse celebrate Christmas in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Photo: 24 December 2020EPA
There were festive cheers at this centre for the elderly in Santiago de Compostela in Spain
News imagePA Media Mary Orme and her son Michael McKimm arrive for a Christmas Day visit with their mother and grandmother, Rose McKimm, at Aspen Hill Village care home in Hunslet, Leeds.PA Media
This mother and son wore protective clothing to visit a care home in northern England
News imagePA Media A family take advantage of the Christmas Day snow with a trip out sledging on the hills near Hexham, Northumberland.PA Media
People in parts of the UK woke up to a white Christmas
News imageAFP Employees in a gold shop wear hairbands with reindeer antlers as part of Christmas festivities in the southern Thai province of Narathiwat on December 25, 2020.AFP
Employees at a gold shop in Thailand's southern province of Narathiwat got into the festive spirit by donning reindeer antlers
News imageGetty Images A man dressed as Santa Claus greets children at a shopping mall in Jakarta on December 25, 2020.Getty Images
In Indonesia, children wore masks as they interacted with Santa Claus at a shopping mall

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