2013: The world celebrates Christmas

Pope Francis kisses the unveiled baby Jesus during a Christmas Eve mass at St Peter's Basilica to mark the nativity of Jesus Christ, on December 24, 2013 at the Vatican.

Photo credit: AFP

Indian children dressed as Santa Claus play near a sand sculpture depicting God and Jesus Christ, and created by sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik, at Golden Sea Beach in Puri, some 65 kms away from Bhubaneswar on December 24, 2013.

Photo credit: AFP

Syrians gather for Christmas eve celebrations and prayers in Al-Zeitoun Roman Catholic Church in Damascus, on December 24, 2013.

Photo credit: AFP

People stand behind Christmas decorations for sale at a roadside stall in Siliguri, India on December 24, 2013, on Christmas Eve.

Photo credit: AFP

People walk by a Christmas tree in front of the New York Stock Exchange December 24, 2013 in New York.

Photo credit: AFP

People play a nativity scene during the unveiling ceremony of the crib in St Peter's Square at the Vatican, on December 24, 2013.

Photo credit: AFP

A couple look at the illuminated decoration to celebrate the festival season during Christmas eve in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013.

Photo credit: AP

US soldiers and service members with the NATO- led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) attend a religious ceremony on Christmas Eve at Bagram military base in Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday Dec. 24, 2013.

Photo credit: AP

A Palestinian marching band marches during a parade marking Christmas in Manger Square, outside the Church of the Nativity, traditionally believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ, in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013.

Photo credit: AP

The ancient temple of Parthenon atop the Acropolis hill is seen behind Christmas lights in Athens on December 23, 2013.

Photo credit: AFP

A chimpanzee holds a package filled with treats and wrapped as a Christmas gift at the zoo in La Fleche, western France, on December 23, 2013.

Photo credit: AFP

People look at the Christmas lighting in Cali, Colombia, on December 23, 2013.

Photo credit: AFP

Photo taken on December 23, 2013 shows Christmas lights and Christmas trees decorating the Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco.

Photo credit: AFP

A giant Christmas lantern is seen in a devastated area of Magallanes town, Tacloban city, central Philippines December 22, 2013.

Photo credit: Reuters

Volunteers prepare a display of toys to give away inside a Winter Wonderland tent at a Christmas Eve meal hosted by the Los Angeles Mission on December 24, 2013 along Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles, California.

Photo credit: AFP