Christmas Preparations Around The World (PHOTOS)

With Dec. 25 right around the corner, nations around the world have been struck with the Christmas spirit.

In European nations such as Germany, Denmark and France, world-famous holiday markets treated visitors to some ultra-glittery kitsch and ornately-decorated sweets. On a considerably more somber note, Pakistani Christians attended contemplative Advent church services, while in war-torn Afghanistan, U.S. troops were treated to a special appearance by Robin Williams in the weeks leading up to the holiday. And of course, Santa Claus himself made numerous worldwide appearances, from Monaco to Malaysia.

See photos of the world's most festive Christmas celebrations here:

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Overview of the illuminated city hall and the Christmas market in Munich.

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Overview of the illuminated city hall and the Christmas market in Munich.

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Comments

[charles10]

01:09 PM on 12/25/2010

Why does the western media enjoy featuring only the worst aspects of the Philippines when they have their own ragged, homeless, unwashed masses lining up in soup kitchens?

[shutterbabe]

10:49 AM on 12/25/2010

May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope;
The spirit of Christmas which is peace;
The heart of Christmas which is love.
- - - Ada V. Hendricks

[SemperVeritas]

09:48 AM on 12/25/2010

Dear Santa,

I don't ask for much. All I wanted for Christmas
is HuffPost's "Pending" number to be reinstated.

You let me down. Why? I've been good.

Virginia

[shutterbabe]

10:51 AM on 12/25/2010

It is strange not having those numbers to gauge your post in terms of time. I miss them, too, Semper. Anyone else feeling the same way?

[gevan]

01:01 PM on 12/25/2010

Hadn't noticed their having gone missing.

[LogicalMathMan]

01:13 AM on 12/25/2010

Mexico shows a pic of poinsettias in a warehouse - courtesy of WalMart.

[shutterbabe]

10:48 AM on 12/25/2010

Mexico is truly beautiful at Christmas, LMM. They begin to celebrate with 'Posada's" mid-December, these incredible processions of joyful childten and holiday spirit. Their traditions are truly wondrous, visually pleasing and full of heart.

Merry, Merry to You! ;-))

[LogicalMathMan]

02:02 PM on 12/25/2010

Thanks for your wishes Ms. Sb. My point was that HP could've posted more flattering pics than poinsettias in a warehouse.

All the best in 2011.

Peace!

[jo smith456]

11:49 PM on 12/24/2010

WOW. Real, global sampling.... Excellent.

[Cynthia Rays]

06:47 PM on 12/24/2010

How about a photo of the non violent activists in jail near Bethlehem, Palestine arrested for protesting the seizure of their land, graveyard and spring by the ISraeli army?

[Debussey Clidela]

09:53 AM on 12/25/2010

How about finding a Muslim who wished Christians a Merry Christmas?

"A bomb exploded during Christmas Day Mass at a chapel inside a police camp in the volatile southern Philippines, wounding a priest and 10 churchgoers."

[LMPE]

06:43 PM on 12/24/2010

Meanwhile, that one city in upstate NY is overrun by gremlins.

[rbryanh]

04:49 PM on 12/24/2010

Wretched. Excess.

[Benmyoho]

04:16 PM on 12/24/2010

A Happy Christmas to the world at large!

http://www.courater.com/?p=608

[shutterbabe]

10:49 AM on 12/25/2010

The same to you, Benmyoho!

[Benmyoho]

03:53 PM on 12/25/2010

Y A Y !

[wakeup804]

03:49 PM on 12/24/2010

I only have one peeve about Christmas....when did white lights become the symbol of Christmas....where are the red, green, yellow and blue lights.......those are the real colors of Christmas lights. Happy Holidays to everyone..........enjoy those you love and be safe.

[alsm9]

11:30 PM on 12/24/2010

They aren't a symbol of Christmas, they are suppose to represent icicles I thought. It's just decoration though, is it that big a deal?

[wakeup804]

10:13 AM on 12/25/2010

Yeah it is....the white lights are drab, they don't look like icicles, and Christmas has always been a colorful holiday.

[AnnArky]

02:58 PM on 12/24/2010

I can't wait until Christmas is over so we can leave all this peace-on-earth-goodwill-towards-men bllsht behind and get back to doing what we do best - shopping and killing each other.

[canobserv]

05:33 PM on 12/24/2010

LOL

[cybogoblin]

02:25 PM on 12/24/2010

New Zealand would have submitted a photo, but we're all too busy having a BBQ picnic on the beach enjoying the sunshine.

Dreaming of a white Christmas? Only if you're talking about pavlova!

[LogicalMathMan]

01:11 AM on 12/25/2010

You should be mourning for the 29 miners killed last month...just sayin'

[cybogoblin]

01:57 AM on 12/26/2010

We had our two minutes silence at work, and we spent a lot of time watching the moving images on the nightly news, but there is a point where the country should start moving on with life. Should we also still be feeling sorry for those in Canterbury who have lost their homes? What about the families of those who have been killed by drink drivers?

Sure, it's not so easy for those on the West Coast, but that is, sadly, a given.

[JanPoore]

02:24 PM on 12/24/2010

Deck the Halls...by the Animals of YouTube
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-0WVfj76bo

[peachpage01]

02:13 PM on 12/24/2010

Where's Canada, eh?

[LogicalMathMan]

01:12 AM on 12/25/2010

Oh noooooooo...would've loved to see some Canadians. You are a happy lot, I must add.

[WarriorDarkWolf]

02:08 PM on 12/24/2010

History of a Christmas festival dates back over 4000 years. Founding Father Proclaimed it to be a Pagan Holiday

http://www.novareinna.com/festive/xmas.html