Monrovia, Liberia

A man dressed as Santa Claus eats on West Point Bridge
Photograph: Thierry Gouegnon/Reuters

Ryazan, Russia

A woman dressed as a snow maiden takes a selfie with children during a festive parade
Photograph: Tass/Barcroft Images

Madinat Zayed, United Arab Emirates

A child presses his face in on to a camel’s during the Mazayin Dhafra camel festival. The event, which attracts participants from around the Gulf region, includes a camel beauty contest, a display of UAE handcrafts and other activities aimed at promoting the country’s folklore
Photograph: Getty Images

Kirklees, UK

A colourful morning sunrise on Christmas Eve at Victoria Tower on Castle Hill, West Yorkshire.
Photograph: Graha/Zuma Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

Hagen, Germany

Motorcyclist Giuseppe shows his beard decorated with small Christmas baubles at a bikers’ meeting near Lake Hengstey
Photograph: Ina Fassbender/AFP/Getty Images

St Petersburg, Russia

A festively dressed British bulldog during December Fest
Photograph: Tass/Barcroft Images

Harbin, China

Winter swimmers plunge into Songhua river
Photograph: Tao Zhang/Getty Images

Hanoi, Vietnam

A father with his baby performs during a Christmas babywearing dance in downtown Hanoi. Christmas is not an official holiday in Vietnam, but some of its customs have become more popular in recent years
Photograph: Luong Thai Linh/EPA

Sydney, Australia

Surf lifesavers in festive spirit patrol calm waters at north Bondi beach in a 35C heatwave
Photograph: Sy/Australscope/Rex/Shutterstock

Bethlehem, West Bank

A man dressed as Santa Claus gestures as the convoy of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, arrives through an Israeli checkpoint to attend Christmas celebrations
Photograph: Mussa Issa Qawasma/Reuters

Vatican City

Pope Francis during his Angelus prayer in St Peter’s Square
Photograph: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

Budapest, Hungary

Common squirrel monkeys observe their Christmas present, a box full of mealworms, at Budapest Zoo. See our gallery of animals celebrating Christmas
Photograph: Attila Kovacs/EPA

Skopje, Macedonia

A dog dressed as Santa Claus takes part in the annual city race
Photograph: Ognen Teofilovski/Reuters

Krasnoyarsk, Russia

An aerial view shows people dressed as Father Frost and Snow Maiden as members of the Cryophile winter swimming club of Siberia form their bodies into a 2018 sign
Photograph: Ilya Naymushin/Reuters