Christmas 2024 is being celebrated around the world in various ways. In Sydney, Australia, St Marys Cathedral is beautifully lit up, and Christmas lights can be seen in Kings Park and in different neighborhoods such as Hampton Park and Rooty Hill. The Sydney Fish Market sees a last-minute rush for festive seafood as people prepare for their Christmas feasts. In Brisbane, a mother and her sons get ready for the holiday season, while emergency department staff at Alfred Health in Melbourne continue to work tirelessly through Christmas Day.
In Copenhagen, Queen Mary of Denmark attends a WeShelter Food Club event to spread holiday cheer. Meanwhile, in Lapland, Finland, Santa’s helpers sort through hundreds of thousands of letters from children around the world. Christmas Eve is celebrated in Seoul, South Korea, with festive decorations and festivities. In Japan, Hiroyuki Wada dresses as Santa and drives around Tokyo in a vintage Cadillac, bringing joy to children despite Christmas not being a national holiday.
In London, the annual Christmas Eve meat sale at Smithfield Market has been a tradition for over a century. King Charles III records his annual Christmas message, and travellers at San Francisco International Airport try to make it home in time for the holiday. In Bethlehem, near the Church of the Nativity, children have their photos taken with Santa Claus. It’s not all joy, as a Syrian Christian man protests in Damascus after a Christmas tree was set on fire in Hamah.
In Moscow, the final touches are added to a Christmas tree in Cathedral Square, while a Christmas Eve service takes place at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta. In Lebanon, a Christmas decoration is seen amidst the rubble of St George Melkite Catholic Church in Dardghaya. In India, Kolkata celebrates Christmas with decorations and festivities, while a shopping centre in Beijing, China, is adorned with Christmas decorations. In the US, Wakefield Winter Wonderland in California lights up with Christmas lights, and divers dressed as Santa entertain visitors at the Lotte World Aquarium in Seoul, South Korea.
Events such as a Santa stand-up paddle event in Thessaloniki, Greece, and Christmas carols at Assumption Church in Lalitpur, Nepal, bring holiday cheer to people around the world. Despite being a day of celebration and joy, Christmas also brings reminders of the challenges and conflicts faced by many communities, such as the protest in Damascus and the Christmas tree being set on fire in Hamah. From bustling city streets to quiet church services, Christmas 2024 is being observed in various ways, reflecting the diversity and traditions of cultures around the world.
