Christmas where you live

Lightbulb babies and fairytale castles: Your Christmas traditions - CNN.comvar cnnCurrTime=new Date(1356116458000),cnnCurrHour=14,cnnCurrMin=0,cnnCurrDay="Fri",cnnIsIntl=true,clickID=212106,cnn_cvpAdpre="edition.",cnnCVPAdSectionT1="edition.cnn.com_specialreports_cnncelebrates_t1",cnnCVPAdSectionInPage="edition.cnn.com_specialreports_cnncelebrates_inpage",cnnShareUrl="%2F2012%2F12%2F21%2Fworld%2Fchristmas-ireport%2Findex.html",cnnShareTitle="Lightbulb%20babies%20and%20fairytale%20castles%3A%20Your%20Christmas%20traditions",cnnShareDesc="",cnnFirstPub=new Date('Friday Dec 21 06:45:10 EST 2012'),cnnSectionName="world",cnnSubSectionName="",cnnPageType="Story",cnnBrandingValue="intl.celebrates";cnnPartnerValue="/ireport";cnnOmniBranding="CNN Celebrates",cnnAuthor="Sarah Brown and Eoghan Macguire, CNN",disqus_category_id=207582,disqus_identifier="/2012/12/21/world/christmas-ireport/index.html",disqus_title="Lightbulb babies and fairytale castles: Your Christmas traditions",cnn_edtnswtchver="edition",cnnIsStoryPage=true,cnn_metadata = {};cnn_metadata = {section: ["world",""],friendly_name: "Lightbulb babies and fairytale castles: Your Christmas traditions",template_type: "content",template_type_content: "gallery",business: {cnn: {page: {author: "Sarah Brown and Eoghan Macguire, CNN",broadcast_franchise: "",video_embed_count: "0",publish_date: "2012/12/21",photo_gallery: "Christmas where you live"},video: {video_player: ""}}},user: {authenticated: "",segment: {age: "",zip: "",gender: ""}}};if (typeof(cnnOmniPartner) !== "undefined") {if (cnn_metadata.template_type_content === "") {cnn_metadata.template_type_content = "partner";}}var photo_gallery = "Christmas where you live";if(typeof CNN==='undefined'){var CNN=Class.create();}CNN.expandableMap=[''];function _loginOptions(){};var disqus_url=(typeof disqus_identifier!=='undefined') ? 'http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/21/world/christmas-ireport/index.html' : 'http://www.cnn.com'+location.pathname;cnnad_newTileIDGroup(['607x95_adlinks','336x280_adlinks']); EDITION:  INTERNATIONAL U.S. MÉXICO ARABIC TV:   CNNi CNN en Español Set edition preference Sign up Log in Home Video World U.S. Africa Asia Europe Latin America Middle East Business World Sport Entertainment Tech Travel iReport /* STORY PAGE SPECIFIC CSS */.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr { background:#fff url('http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/mosaic/bg_speccov_hdr.gif') 0px 0px repeat-x; }.cnn_stryspcvh1 { position:relative; height:74px;background:transparent url('http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/ssi/story/3.0/banner/intl.celebrates.inc/celebrates.jpg') 50% 0px no-repeat;overflow:hidden; }.cnn_stryspcvh2 { font:bold 10px/12px arial;color:#666;padding:0 0 2px 0; }.cnn_stryspcvh3 { font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight:bold; font-size:18px; line-height:21px; }.cnn_stryspcvh4 { position:absolute; z-index:1000; float:left;margin:30px 0 0 10px;display:inline; }.cnn_stryspcvh5 { float:right;margin:30px 10px 0 0;display:inline;text-align:right; }.cnn_stryspcvh20 { padding:0 0 2px 0; }.cnn_stryspccvrgebot { height:3px; background:#e6e6e6; }.cnn_stryspccvh6 { width:100%; height:74px; text-align:center; left:0; }.cnn_stryspccvh6 a { display:block; margin:0 auto; width:451px; height:74px; }Part of complete coverage onCNN CelebratesPrintEmailMore sharingLightbulb babies and fairytale castles: Your Christmas traditionsJoin the conversation CNN iReportBy Sarah Brown and Eoghan Macguire, CNNDecember 21, 2012 -- Updated 1513 GMT (2313 HKT)if (typeof cnnArticleGallery=="undefined"){var cnnArticleGallery={};if(typeof cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList=="undefined"){cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList=[];}}var expGalleryPT00=new ArticleExpandableGallery();expGalleryPT00.setImageCount(18);expGalleryPT00.setAdsRefreshCount(3);//cnn_adbptrackpgalimg("Christmas cottages", 1);.cnn_html_slideshow_metadata > .cnn_html_media_utility::before{color:red;content:'>>';font-size:9px;line-height:12px;padding-right:1px}.cnnstrylccimg640{margin:0 27px 14px 0}.captionText{filter:alpha(opacity=100);opacity:1}.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:visited,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:link,.captionText a,.captionText a:visited,.captiontext a:link{color:#004276;outline:medium none}.cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{margin:0 auto;padding-right:68px;width:270px}Angeline Hwang took this picture of model cottages at a Christmas market in the German town of Hanau, the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm. German Christmas markets can have many themes, she said, and pop-up throughout the country during the festive months.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":true,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":1,"title":"Christmas cottages"}Jen Best from Liberty, Missouri, snapped this adorable picture of her six-month-old nephew, Grayson, playing with fairy lights after seeing the idea on content sharing platform Pinterest. "(Grayson) absolutely loved the lights," she said. "When we finished, my brother picked him up, and he held a light tightly in each hand and wouldn't let go."cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":2,"title":"Baby lights"}Each year the beautiful neoclassical Placio Nacional building in Santo Domingo is given a Christmas makeover. This photo of the presidential palace was taken by Misael Rincon, a 31-year-old TV producer from the Dominican Republic. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":3,"title":"Christmas makeover"}This photo of a couple of priests walking through the Christian Quarter in Jerusalem was taken by James Cheatham, who has lived and worked on and off in the city since 2002.

"When I was walking through the Christian Quarter, several of the shops had Christmas music playing such as Bing Crosby (White Christmas), Nat King Cole (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire), and O Holy Night, amongst others which really added to the atmosphere," said the native Californian. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":4,"title":"A holy Christmas"}Thai Dang took this sparkling image of the Christmas light display that brightens up the facade of the Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul, Korea, every festive season.

"I took a bunch of photos but this was my favorite," she said. "I liked how the trees stand out from the purple screen board behind ... It is dreamy and fantasy-like."cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":5,"title":"Seoulful celebrations"}Mary Legg shot this image of the elaborate Christmas decorations in the Old Town area of her adopted home city, Prague. "All kinds of scrumptious fast foods are to be had from freshly roasted meat over open spits to mulled wine and the ever great Czech beer," she said.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":6,"title":"Czech Christmas"}Marie Sager, who shot this impressive image of creative festive decorations in Provincetown, Massachusetts. "It was built with lobster cages, decorated with plastic ... seashells and topped with nautical items. Perfect for a town by the sea." " border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto007" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="640"/>"This was the most unusual tree I had ever seen," said iReporter, Marie Sager, who shot this impressive image of creative festive decorations in Provincetown, Massachusetts. "It was built with lobster cages, decorated with plastic ... seashells and topped with nautical items. Perfect for a town by the sea." cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":7,"title":"Lobster-cage tree"}Dutch iReporter Irene Reijs, captured this image of a man delivering Christmas decorations by bike in her adopted home of Shanghai, China. "Christmas is not a Chinese tradition, but much of our decorations are made in China," she said. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":8,"title":"Christmas in Shanghai"}Kim Tinambacan captured this cool image of a Christmas tree entirely made from recycled materials -- such as plastic, Styrofoam and foils -- in Santa Rosa, the Philippines. "I decided to take this kind of photo because it really symbolizes the true meaning of Christmas ingenuity here in the Philippines," she said.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":9,"title":"Filipino ingenuity"}Natalie Montanaro captured this moment of a happy family attending a carol performance in the Pacific island of Tonga. "Although we are showered with tropical sunshine, shaded by coconut palms and quenched by the cool blue of the South Pacific, it's already 'beginning to look (and feel!) a lot like Christmas," she said. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":10,"title":"A carol in Tonga"}Billy Ocker. "Old cars, boats, bikes, tow-trucks, fire trucks and floats," are a common sight. "Anything that has wheels would be allowed," he added. " border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto0011" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="640"/>In the Floridian coastal town of Sebastian, "people decorate cars and boats to show their spirit of Christmas" before parading them through town, said Billy Ocker. "Old cars, boats, bikes, tow-trucks, fire trucks and floats," are a common sight. "Anything that has wheels would be allowed," he added. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":11,"title":"Truck parade"}iReporter Christian Bordo captured this image of a parol -- a star shaped lantern made out of bamboo and paper, traditional to Filipino Christmas celebrations.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":12,"title":"Festive parol"}Greg Reese photographed these costumed attendees of Santacon 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio. "It's an annual event where they dress up like Santa and other holiday icons and walk around the city giving candy and [going on] pub crawls," he said.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":13,"title":"Santa convention"}Gregory Lalith took this image of festive revellers at the annual Christmas carnival in his hometown of Hyderabad, India.

Trucks, cars and all manner vehicles are transformed into festively themed parade floats for the event, before setting off along the city's main thoroughfares and neighborhoods, he said.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":14,"title":"A festive Indian parade"}Sarah Tatham is a Canadian living in Barranquilla, Colombia. This picture of a cardboard snowman reflects her longing for home during Christmas. "I love living in the tropics, but at this time of year I really miss seeing the lights and snow, and seeing the hustle and bustle as people buy their gifts," she said.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":15,"title":"A Colombian snowman"}Donna Clare captured this fun shot of a giant inflatable Elmo -- of the popular children's TV show, Sesame Street -- floating high above the Hollywood Christmas Parade. "The event, as expected was a Hollywood affair, complete with lots of red carpet and lots of celebrities," she said. "[It] felt like a movie premiere more so than a parade." cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":16,"title":"A Hollywood tale"}

"It is kind of surreal to be standing there sweating in the tropical heat of Borneo surrounded by Christmas lights and carols and statues of wise men and camels as a blizzard of faux-snow swirls past the palm trees around you," he added. " border="0" height="360" id="articleGalleryPhoto0017" style="margin:0 auto;display:none" width="640"/>This Christmas, Peter Harrits traded his native winter white Wisconsin for the hot and humid Borneo, Malaysia, where he is currently on assignment. He took this photo of the annual Christmas carnival in Kota Kinabalu. "To me, the carnival is a perfect example of the diversity that makes Malaysia such a fascinating place to explore," he said.

"It is kind of surreal to be standing there sweating in the tropical heat of Borneo surrounded by Christmas lights and carols and statues of wise men and camels as a blizzard of faux-snow swirls past the palm trees around you," he added. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":17,"title":"Away from home"}Prolific iReporter Tracy Bymoen photographed a German Christmas market in Heidelberg, Germany. She says the market's fairytale castle look adds to the holiday spirit, and the area has every Christmas item you could possibly need for the holiday season. "I visited the castle over the last few days and, despite the 300 plus stairs one must walk to get up to the castle market, it was always bustling," she said. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":18,"title":"Christmas castle"}HIDE CAPTIONChristmas cottagesBaby lightsChristmas makeoverA holy ChristmasSeoulful celebrationsCzech ChristmasLobster-cage treeChristmas in ShanghaiFilipino ingenuityA carol in TongaTruck paradeFestive parolSanta conventionA festive Indian paradeA Colombian snowmanA Hollywood taleAway from homeChristmas castle<<<123456789101112131415161718>>>Event.observe(window,'load',function(){if(typeof(cnn_adbptrackpgalimg) == 'function' && typeof(cnnArticleGallery) != 'undefined'){cnn_adbptrackpgalimg(cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[0].image,"Christmas where you live");}});STORY HIGHLIGHTSCNN asked people from around the globe to send in their images of Christmas celebrations where they liveiReporters sent in the best shots from as far afield as Colombia, the Philipnnes and ChinaSome of the most intriguing featured light displays, markets, parades and religious services

(CNN) -- Christmas is synonymous with colorful decorations, festive markets and extravagant quantities of food.

But while most yuletide celebrations share these general characteristics, there are of course a host of distinctive traditions and regional variations depending on where you are in the world.

That's why CNN asked you to show us exactly how Christmas is celebrated where you live. From the Philippines to Germany to Colombia and even the Pacific island of Tonga, we received over 400 wonderfully vivid submissions.

Christmas would obviously not be Christmas without Santa Claus, or Father Christmas, or Pere Noel. Whatever the name, his popularity among children (and many adults) is perennial.

See also: Where is the world's most Christmassy destination

.cnnArticleGalleryNav{border:1px solid #000;cursor:pointer;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:25px}.cnnArticleGalleryNavOn{background-color:#C03;border:1px solid #000;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:20px}.cnnArticleGalleryNavDisabled{background-color:#222;border:1px solid #000;color:#666;float:left;height:25px;text-align:center;width:25px}.cnnArticleExpandableTarget{background-color:#000;display:none;position:absolute}.cnnArticlePhotoContainer{height:122px;width:214px}.cnnArticleBoxImage{cursor:pointer;height:122px;padding-top:0;width:214px}.cnnArticleGalleryCaptionControl{background-color:#000;color:#FFF}.cnnArticleGalleryCaptionControlText{cursor:pointer;float:right;font-size:10px;padding:3px 10px 3px 3px}.cnnArticleGalleryPhotoContainer cite{background:none repeat scroll 0 0 #000;bottom:48px;color:#FFF;height:auto;left:420px;opacity:.7;position:absolute;width:200px;padding:10px}.cnnArticleGalleryClose{background-color:#fff;display:block;text-align:right}.cnnArticleGalleryCloseButton{cursor:pointer}.cnnArticleGalleryNavPrevNext span{background-color:#444;color:#CCC;cursor:pointer;float:left;height:23px;text-align:center;width:26px;padding:4px 0 0}.cnnArticleGalleryNavPrevNextDisabled span{background-color:#444;color:#666;float:left;height:23px;text-align:center;width:25px;padding:4px 0 0}.cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{padding-right:68px;width:270px;margin:0 auto}.cnnGalleryContainer{float:left;clear:left;margin:0 0 20px;padding:0 0 0 10px}if (typeof cnnArticleGallery == "undefined") {var cnnArticleGallery = {};}if(typeof cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList =="undefined"){cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList = [];}var expGallery61=new ArticleExpandableGallery();expGallery61.setImageCount(55);//cnn_adbptrackpgalimg("Santa sightings around the world", 1);A militarized police helicopter leaves a Santa Claus atop a school in a shantytown, or favela, of Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, December 20. This St. Nick, dressed in the white and blue colors of Peace Police Units, handed out toys among the children in the Brazilian slum.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":true,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":1,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}Two Japanese Santas clean the windows of a Tokyo hotel on December 20.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":2,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}Santa auditions an alternative species to pull his sleigh at the Marineland park in Antibes, France, on Wednesday, December 19.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":3,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}Stuttgart fans don Santa hats during a German Cup match between VfB Stuttgart and 1. 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Denver won 34-17.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":10,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}A girl points out toys to Santa Claus on Saturday, December 15, in a store in Lille, France. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":11,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}Costumed Santas crowd into a telephone booth during the Santacon pub crawl near London's Trafalgar Square on December 15.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":12,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}Revelers in Santa costumes sit on the lion statue at the base of Nelson's Column in London's Trafalgar Square on December 15.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":13,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}A member of a French anti-fur group wades into the sea during a beach protest to denounce the practice of wearing fur on December 15 in Nice, France. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":14,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}A man dressed as Santa Claus sees a patient in the pediatric ward of a hospital in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on Friday, December 14. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":15,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}A man decked out as Santa walks down Geary Street on December 14 in San Francisco.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":16,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}A man wearing a Santa Claus costume performs in downtown Rome on Thursday, December 13. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":17,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}Police check a man dressed as Santa Claus as he passes through a metal detector at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, December 12, in Washington.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":18,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}Catholics United hold a press conference with Santa Claus in front of the U.S. Capitol to rebut the GOP's budget effort in the ongoing fiscal cliff argument on December 12 in Washington.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":19,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}Icelandic philantropist Einar Sveinsson, dressed as Santa Claus, speaks with a patient in the oncology ward during a visit to the Benjamin Bloom National Children's Hospital in San Salvador, El Salvador, on Tuesday, December 11.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":20,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}A man dressed as Ded Moroz, the Russian Santa Claus, entertains children at the Ded Moroz residence in Kuzminsky Park in Moscow on Tuesday, December 11.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":21,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}A man dressed as Santa waits for customers in a wooden house in Rome on December 11.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":22,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}A diver dressed as Santa Claus poses for a photograph with children during a promotional event for the "Sardines Feeding Show with Santa Claus" at the Coex Aquarium in Seoul, South Korea, on December 11.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":23,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}Costumed participants of the annual "Best Father Frost" contest from different city districts make their way through a courtyard in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, on Monday, December 10.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":24,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}A few thousand Santa Clauses ride between Gdansk and Gdynia, Poland, on Sunday, December 9. 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Eintracht won 4-1.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":29,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}A customer holds the door of a shopping mall for a man dressed as Santa Claus on December 8, in Berlin.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":30,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}Valery Kokoulin, 47, rings a bell on his yacht to mark the end of the sailboat season on Friday, December 7, on the Yenisei River outside Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Temperatures in the Siberian city dipped to minus 9.4 degrees Fahrenheit.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":31,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}Kokoulin stands aboard his yacht on December 7.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":32,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}President Barack Obama greets Santa Claus with actors Neil Patrick Harris, Rico Rodriguez and musician Phillip Phillips during the 90th National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the White House on Thursday, December 6, in Washington, D.C.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":33,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}A diver dressed as a Santa Claus dives with a nurse shark in the Sea Life Aquarium in Munich, Germany, on December 6, which is St. Nicholas Day.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":34,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}Around 400 people dressed as Santa Claus arrive by train in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, on December 6.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":35,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}A man dressed as a Santa Claus waves at the port in Hamburg, Germany, on December 6.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":36,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}People in Santa Claus outfits imitate South Korean rapper Psy's famous "Gangnam Style" dance outside offices in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday, December 5. 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The show will be held daily until Christmas Day. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":1,"pos":51,"title":"Santa sightings around the world"}Estonian Santa Claus "Santa Aare," from left, Dutch Santa Claus "Santa Holland" and Swedish Santa Claus "Snaretomten" compete in the Kicksled Sack Race during the Santa Claus Winter Games in Gallivare, Sweden, on Saturday, November 17. 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Neighbors try and out-do each other with holiday decorations.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":2,"pos":8,"title":"Brooklyn sights "}Dating as far back as the 12th century and carved out of striking red-color blocks of volcanic rock these churches, situated roughly 200 miles north of Addis Ababa, are a sacred place of pilgrimage for those wanting to celebrate the Coptic Christmas on January 7. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":2,"pos":9,"title":"Ethiopia\'s monolithic churches"}If you can manage to extend your Christmas holiday until Three King's Day on January 6, there is no better place to catch up with Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar than Barcelona where parades, floats and fireworks light up the town for huge post-December 25 street party. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":2,"pos":10,"title":"Meeting kings in Barcelona "}Known as the country with "the longest Christmas season in the world," Filipinos get the Christmas festivities rolling in September, and extend them well through January. 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Florida.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":true,"x":6,"y":3,"pos":1,"title":"Naples, Florida"}The Christmas tree stands proud at Westminster Abbey.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":3,"pos":2,"title":"London, UK"}A relatively understated series of Christmas lights in front of the Belvedere Palace in Vienna.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":3,"pos":3,"title":"Vienna, Austria"}An unusal array of Christmas lights envelop a truck in the city of Medellin, Colombia.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":3,"pos":4,"title":"Medellin, Colombia"}The notorious Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":3,"pos":5,"title":"New York, NY"}Artisanal lights go on sale at Berlin's winter market.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":3,"pos":6,"title":"Berlin, Germany"}A spectacular display of color-changing LED lights in Tokyo's Shiodome.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":3,"pos":7,"title":"Tokyo, Japan"}The Champs Elysees decorated with Christmas lights.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":3,"pos":8,"title":"Paris, France"}Christmas in the snowy city of Copenhagen.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length] = {"currentPicture":false,"x":6,"y":3,"pos":9,"title":"Copenhagen, Denmark"}Flowers of lights adorn a building at Wiesbaden's Christmas Market. 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FloridaLondon, UKVienna, AustriaMedellin, ColombiaNew York, NYBerlin, GermanyTokyo, JapanParis, FranceCopenhagen, DenmarkWiesbaden, GermanyLondon, UKLucca, ItalyKingston, New YorkSenado Square, MacauHIDE CAPTION<<<1234567891011121314>>>Christmas lights around the worldEvent.observe(window, 'load', function() {//report the first gallery image to ADBPif(typeof(cnn_adbptrackpgalimg) == 'function' && typeof(cnnArticleGallery) != 'undefined') {cnn_adbptrackpgalimg(cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[0].image, "Christmas where you live");}});Greg Reese from Cincinnati, Ohio, sent in these images of 'Santa-Con' in his home city -- an annual event where people come dressed up as Santa Claus and tread the streets doling out candy.

"It's essentially a gathering of like-minded individuals who wish to both get into the Christmas spirit, as well as spread Christmas cheer to their fellow man," said Reese.

Thousands of miles away, the Philippines hosts some of the most lavish Christmas celebrations in the world -- starting in September and ending in January. They also have some of the most colorful and fascinating traditions around the holiday.

Nathaniel Molines from San Pedro in Laguna province, the Philippines, sent in these beautiful images of parols -- lanterns made traditionally from bamboo and paper used to light the way to church for worshipers living in darkened rural areas.

"This is a simple decoration that tells us that Christmas is in every corner, love is in the air," he said. "I took the picture because it reminds me the value of celebrating Christmas here in the Philippines."

Lights of a similar design were spotted thousands of miles away in Shanghai, China, by Dutch expat Irene Reijs, who captured a beautiful image of a delivery man doggedly trundling along on his bike with his wares crammed into a delivery box.

"This photo for me represents Shanghai. Everything you can imagine is being delivered by these men and women on their bikes," she said.

"I was walking down the street with my camera and saw a golden shimmer at the end of the street. Then I saw this man and his bike... It made my day."

See also: The world's longest Christmas celebrations

Christmas in warmer locals can bring its challenges when it comes to at least one major decorative theme -- snow.

In Barranquilla, Colombia, Canadian expat Sara Tatham captured images of some creative craftwork using white felt to ensure that at least the look of decorations at the Colegio Britanico Internacional (British International School) where she works was festive, even if the temperature was not.

"I love living in the tropics, but at this time of year I really miss seeing the lights and snow, and seeing the hustle and bustle as people buy their gifts."

Others break with convention entirely in their Christmas decorations, such as in Cape Cod in the eastern U.S. state of Massachusetts, where photographer Marie Sager spotted a tree built with lobster cages, decorated with plastic seashells and topped with other nautical items.

"This was the most unusual tree I had ever seen," she said. "It's perfect for a town by the sea."

See also: Europe's best Christmas markets

Christmas markets are held across the globe and are a reliable source of presents, seasonal cheer and regional delicacies.

Mary Legg in Prague, the Czech Republic, captured some beautiful images of the city's famous Christmas market and parade, held in the city's Old Town Square.

"Tourists flock in by the droves to buy small handmade presents and enjoy the winter holidays," she says.

"All kinds of scrumptious fast foods are to be had from freshly roasted meat over open spits to mulled wine and the ever great Czech beer."

See also: Test your Christmas knowledge with our quirky festive quiz

Elsewhere in Europe, Angeline Hwang was captivated by the beautiful Christmas market in the German town of Hanau, the birthplace of famous fairy tale authors, the Brothers Grimm.

"I went to walk around the Christmas Market and as I looked up, there were the statues of the Grimm Brothers, standing majestically over the old city square!" she said.

"I was standing exactly where my fairy-tales began."

0Comments »PrintEmailMore sharingvar OB_permalink='http://edition.cnn.com'+location.pathname;var OB_langJS='http://widgets.outbrain.com/lang_en.js';var OB_widgetId='AR_1';var OB_Template="cnnedition";if (typeof(OB_Script)!='undefined'){OutbrainStart();}else{var OB_Script=true;var str="cnnad_createAd("494906","http://ads.cnn.com/html.ng/site=cnn_international&cnn_intl_pagetype=mmst&cnn_intl_position=607x95_adlinks&cnn_intl_rollup=world&page.allowcompete=no¶ms.styles=fs","95","607");cnnad_registerSpace(494906,607,95);Part of complete coverage on CNN CelebratesThe pleasure of Hanukkah foodDecember 7, 2012 -- Updated 2031 GMT (0431 HKT)For some, Hanukkah is "the potato pancake holiday" -- a holiday that takes the mundane potato and gives it a massive makeover.India hosts first arts biennaleDecember 12, 2012 -- Updated 1710 GMT (0110 HKT)The port-city of Kochi, on India's west coast, isn't known for its arts scene but that will change as it's first arts bienale. The best of 2012What's the one picture that truly captures your 2012 highlight? We want to hear from you!Send us your Xmas imagesChristmas is coming. We want to see the best and most spectacular images of festive traditions where you live.A quirky Christmas quizHow much do you know about Christmas traditions around the world? Find out with our quiz.Fun in the PhillipinesDecember 5, 2012 -- Updated 1341 GMT (2141 HKT)Where would you find the most Christmas spirit in the world? It's hard to say for certain, but the Philippines would have an excellent shot. Christmas lights around the worldDecember 6, 2012 -- Updated 1453 GMT (2253 HKT)From the beautiful to the barmy: check out this cool selection of Christmas lights from across the globe.Five real-life winter wonderlandsDecember 3, 2012 -- Updated 1401 GMT (2201 HKT)With presents to buy and families to visit, the holiday season can become an endless to-do list, but a winter vacation can ease the stress.Dyes, candles and mountains of foodNovember 13, 2012 -- Updated 1631 GMT (0031 HKT)As celebrations to mark the Hindu festival of Diwali get under way, iReporters submit their best shots from around the world.Chasing shadowsNovember 13, 2012 -- Updated 0951 GMT (1751 HKT)From cultural celebrations to adventure travel events, CNN discovers how stargazers will mark the November 13 and 14 solar eclipse. Bright spark or dimwit?November 12, 2012 -- Updated 1915 GMT (0315 HKT)Find out how much you know about the movements of the heavans with our solar eclipse quiz.Send us your Diwali photosTo commemorate Diwali, we want to see your best images of the most beautiful festival lights. The best will be showcased on CNN.com. Diwali: The Festival of LightsNovember 17, 2012 -- Updated 1743 GMT (0143 HKT)It is one of the most important Hindu festivals in India -- but its customs and meanings can vary dramatically depending on if you reside in the countryside or the city. Do you know Diwali? Try our quizNovember 5, 2012 -- Updated 1731 GMT (0131 HKT)Do you know why oil lamps, colored powder and firecrackers are vital to successful Diwali celebration?Your pumpkin babies and demonic dogsDecember 17, 2012 -- Updated 1205 GMT (2005 HKT)CNN Celebrates' favorite Halloween iReports: Zombies from around the world, scary creatures, spooky decoration. And one very cute baby..cnn_strycrcntrnwsp .cnn_mtpmore { padding:10px 0px 1px 0px; }.cnn_stryccnwsp2 .cnn_stryccnwsp3 { width:100% }Most PopularToday's five most popular storiesSome believe Friday is doomsday on the Mayan calendar; the Mayans don'tNew Delhi rape exposes the perils of being a woman in IndiaApocalypse believers' big finish predictions varyNRA: Gun bans at schools create dangerous places'The X Factor' season finale recap: Country strongcnnad_createAd("347205","http://ads.cnn.com/html.ng/site=cnn_international&cnn_intl_pagetype=mmst&cnn_intl_position=336x280_adlinks&cnn_intl_rollup=world&page.allowcompete=no¶ms.styles=fs","280","336");cnnad_registerSpace(347205,336,280);

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