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PHOTOS: Christmas Around The World

By Reese Oxner
Published December 25, 2020 at 11:58 AM EST
People take part in the annual Christmas Day swim at the Forty Foot bathing spot in Sandycove Dublin, Ireland, Dec. 25, 2020.
Damien Storan
/
AP
People take part in the annual Christmas Day swim at the Forty Foot bathing spot in Sandycove Dublin, Ireland, Dec. 25, 2020.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, people around the world are celebrating a Christmas unlike any other.

Here are some scenes from this year's holiday season.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

A woman wearing a face mask as a precaution against the coronavirus takes a photo near a Christmas decoration in Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 24, 2020.
Lee Jin-man / AP
/
AP
A woman wearing a face mask as a precaution against the coronavirus takes a photo near a Christmas decoration in Seoul, South Korea, Dec. 24, 2020.
Worshippers of Legio Maria wearing face masks as a preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19 attend the Christmas service at their church in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya, on Dec. 25, 2020.
Yasuyoshi Chiba / AFP via Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
Worshippers of Legio Maria wearing face masks as a preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19 attend the Christmas service at their church in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya, on Dec. 25, 2020.
A Palestinian scouts band parades in front of the Church of the Nativity during Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, on Dec. 24, 2020. Annual festivities around the Church of the Nativity were scaled back but Bethlehem residents were intent on maintaining traditions.
Hazem Bader / AFP via Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
A Palestinian scouts band parades in front of the Church of the Nativity during Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, on Dec. 24, 2020. Annual festivities around the Church of the Nativity were scaled back but Bethlehem residents were intent on maintaining traditions.
People wearing face masks walk past a Christmas display at a shopping mall in the Wanchai district of Hong Kong on Dec. 24, 2020.
Isaac Lawrence / AFP via Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
People wearing face masks walk past a Christmas display at a shopping mall in the Wanchai district of Hong Kong on Dec. 24, 2020.
Pope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for "to the city [of Rome] and to the world") Christmas Day blessing in the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City, Dec. 25, 2020.
Vatican Media / AP
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AP
Pope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for "to the city [of Rome] and to the world") Christmas Day blessing in the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City, Dec. 25, 2020.
A model dressed as a Christmas tree and wearing a face shield poses for photos in a shopping mall in Bangkok on Dec. 24, 2020.
Lillian Suwanrumpha / AFP via Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
A model dressed as a Christmas tree and wearing a face shield poses for photos in a shopping mall in Bangkok on Dec. 24, 2020.
Mario, 7, looks from his family's home in Stamford, Connecticut, on Dec. 24, 2020. The Guatemalan immigrant family, with multiple generations living under the same roof, are recovering from the coronavirus while trying to celebrate Christmas. Eight of 10 family members are COVID-19 positive. Mario, a special needs child, has tested negative for the virus.
John Moore / Getty Images
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Getty Images
Mario, 7, looks from his family's home in Stamford, Connecticut, on Dec. 24, 2020. The Guatemalan immigrant family, with multiple generations living under the same roof, are recovering from the coronavirus while trying to celebrate Christmas. Eight of 10 family members are COVID-19 positive. Mario, a special needs child, has tested negative for the virus.
Francisco Monzon, 50, a taxi driver dressed as Santa Claus, looks at his phone, in Boca del Rio, Veracruz state, Mexico, on Dec. 24, 2020.
Victoria Razo / AFP via Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
Francisco Monzon, 50, a taxi driver dressed as Santa Claus, looks at his phone, in Boca del Rio, Veracruz state, Mexico, on Dec. 24, 2020.
A seniors' residence employee (second right) dances with residents as a band plays on Christmas Eve at Las Praderas home on Dec. 24, 2020, in Pozuelo de Alarcon, near Madrid, Spain. The residence is free of COVID-19 cases.
Pablo Blazquez Dominguez / Getty Images
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Getty Images
A seniors' residence employee (second right) dances with residents as a band plays on Christmas Eve at Las Praderas home on Dec. 24, 2020, in Pozuelo de Alarcon, near Madrid, Spain. The residence is free of COVID-19 cases.
A health worker dressed as Santa Claus visits patients in a hospital in Cali, Colombia, on Dec. 24, 2020.
Paola Mafla / AFP via Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
A health worker dressed as Santa Claus visits patients in a hospital in Cali, Colombia, on Dec. 24, 2020.
A diver dressed as Santa Claus greets visitors at the Dubai mall aquarium, in the United Arab Emirates, on Dec. 24, 2020.
Giuseppe Cacace / AFP via Getty Images
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AFP via Getty Images
A diver dressed as Santa Claus greets visitors at the Dubai mall aquarium, in the United Arab Emirates, on Dec. 24, 2020.
Christian women pray during a Christmas mass in Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, Dec. 25, 2020.
K.M. Chaudary / AP
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AP
Christian women pray during a Christmas mass in Sacred Heart Cathedral in Lahore, Pakistan, Friday, Dec. 25, 2020.
A family poses for a photo on Christmas Day at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, Dec. 25, 2020.
Mark Baker / AP
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AP
A family poses for a photo on Christmas Day at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, Dec. 25, 2020.
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The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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