Friday 24 December 2010

From the surfing Santa of Indonesia to where it all began in Bethlehem... Christmas celebrations around the world

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Indonesia: A surfer dressed in a Santa costume surfs at Kuta beach on the resort island of Bali

Marvel at the diving Santa of South Korea, the candle tower of Germany and the cycling St Nick of the Philippines. All over the world, Christmas festivities are under way. From India to Australia, Spain to Thailand, Santa's got his hands full...

Lebanon: Children celebrate during their last day of school before the holidays in the southern port city of Sidon

India: Christian devotees pay their respects as part of the Christmas celebration at the illuminated St Paul's church in Amritsar

United States: Santa at play on the ski slopes of Colorado

Lebanon: A choir wearing cowboy hats in east Beirut

United States: Frosty the Snowman pilots his small boat down the Potomac River in Washington, DC

South Korea: Light displays in downtown Seoul

India: Children light candles in St Paul's church in Amritsar

India: Men dressed as Santa Claus visit slums in Allahabad

Spain: Children sit on the laps of men representing the Three Wise Men to ask for presents at Christmas, in Madrid

West Bank: A boy watches the parade outside the Church of the Nativity while Christians gather for Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem

Pakistan: A woman and child decorate a Christmas tree in a Catholic church in Peshawar

Iraq: Kurd children gather to greet Santa Claus in the city of Arbil

Philippines: A member of the Firefly Brigade, an organisation of cyclists, wears a Santa Claus costume as he talks to a woman with her baby in Quezon City

Bethlehem: Pilgrims pray inside the Grotto of the Church of Nativity

Germany: The former tower of the city wall decorated as a candle in Zell an der Mosel

South Korea: A diver swims with sardines at the Coex Aquarium in Seoul

Thailand: Schoolchildren in Ayutthaya watch a show featuring elephants dressed as Santa

United States: Santa waterskis down the Potomac River in Washington, DC

United States: Still on the Potomac, but this time with reindeer and boat-sleigh

Mummy, Daddy... where IS he?

Santa nav: Find out exactly where the great man is via Santa Tracker (www.noradsanta.org/)

Merry Christmas from Warwick, RI

source: dailymail