Picture gallery: Christmas cheer

Around the world, different cultures are marking Christmas Day. But while most gather among family, a few are heading out and making a splash of their own...

Revellers on Sydney's Bondi Beach have to improvise when building a "snowman"

No snowmen in Dublin either, but the sea here is a tad colder

Water is more unwelcome in Havana, Cuba, celebrating its fourth modern Christmas in a downpour

Perhaps better to stay at home and order in, with the help of a Tokyo santa

Istanbul's Orthodox Patriarchate engaged in more spiritual pursuits

And Bethlehem saw the return of the Three Wise Men, 2,000 years on

Nelson Mandela showed true Christmas spirit at his yearly children's party