24 hours in pictures

Tokyo, Japan: A western lowland gorilla eats an orange while holding a Christmas pouch at Ueno zoo Photograph: Toshifumi Kitamura/Getty Images

Sofia. Bulgaria: A boy lights a candle as he attends Christmas mass at the golden domed Alexander Nevsky cathedral Photograph: Valentina Petrova/AP

Islamabad, Pakistan: A vendor pushes his bicycle loaded with balloons along an alley in a Christian neighbourhood Photograph: Muhammed Muheisen/AP

Sydney, Australia: Lifeguards attend to a giant Christmas tree on Bondi beach Photograph: Don Arnold/Getty Images

Ninh Binh, Vietnam: Nuns attend a Christmas Eve mass in Phat Diem cathedral Photograph: Luong Thai Linh/EPA

London, UK: Swimmer Duff Kelly takes a Christmas Day dip in the frigid waters of the Serpentine river in Hyde Park Photograph: Andrew Winning/Reuters

Xian, China: A Christmas tree installed with lanterns, measuring over 10 metres high, is illuminated beside sculptures of ancient people in the background of the Big Wild Goose pagoda Photograph: China Photos/Getty Images

Minsk, Belarus: Men wearing Ded Moroz (Grandfather Frost) costumes, the Santa Claus in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, and women wearing Snegurochka (Snow Maiden) costumes, the traditional companion of Ded Moroz, march in the city centre Photograph: Sergei Grits/AP

Magelang, Java: Indonesian Christians living on the slope of the Mount Merapi volcano celebrate Christmas Day Photograph: Clara Prima/AFP/Getty Images

Jiyeh, Lebanon: Christians dress up as Santa Claus to celebrate Christmas Photograph: Sharif Karim/Reuters

Karachi, Pakistan: A donkey race, held annually on Christmas Day Photograph: Fareed Khan/AP

Vatican City: Pope Benedict XVI delivers his Urbi et Orbi Christmas Day message from the central balcony of Saint Peter's Square Photograph: Osservatore Romano/Reuters

Khartoum, Sudan: Priests pray near a figurine of the baby Jesus during a Christmas mass Photograph: Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Reuters

Sandringham, Norfolk: Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, arrive for a Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Royal estate Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Kabul, Afghanistan: Santa Claus brings presents for US soldiers during a Christmas concert at Bagram air base Photograph: Massoud Hossaini/AFP/Getty Images

Barcelona, Spain: Athletes dressed as Santa Claus jump into the Mediterraean Sea as they take part in the Copa Nadal Photograph: Emilio Morenatti/AP

Kabul, Afghanistan: Soldiers with Nato forces have their Christmas lunch Photograph: Musadeq Sadeq/AP

Berlin, Germany: Members of the Berlin Seals (Berliner Seehunde) swimming club take a dip in icy Orankesee lake during their traditional Christmas Day ice swim. Club members claim a brief dip inthe chilly waters is healthy and improves blood circulation in the body Photograph: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

New Delhi, India: A Santa distributes sweets to children at the hotel Le Meridien Photograph: Mustafa Quraishi/AP