A young girl looks at a statue of baby Jesus at a nativity scene following a Christmas day mass at a church in Bangkok, Thailand. Although Thailand is a Buddhist…
The Christmas tree pictured in front of National Opera building during preparations for Christmas celebration in Chisinau, Moldova. Traditionally, people from former countries of the Soviet Union, still celebrate Christmas…
A Russian rescuer dressed as Father Frost (or Ded Moroz, or Santa Claus) greets a young patient from outside through a window of Morozovskaya Children's hospital during a charity landing…
Ukrainians walk around the main Christmas Tree in front of the Saint Sophia's Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine. The tree of 31 meters features more than ten thousand Christmas tree decorations.…
View of a Christmas Crib displayed at the Basilica of Saint Anne of Koden, in Koden village, near the Polish-Belarusian border, Poland. Via EPA-EFE/Wojtek Jargilo
Two years into the coronavirus pandemic, the United States is confronting another dark winter, with the red-hot Omicron variant threatening to worsen an already dangerous surge of cases. Hospitalizations for…
Christian devotees carry the idol of 'Our Lady of Expectation' in a decorated chariot to Saint Thomas Mount shrine during a procession ahead of Christmas, in Chennai, India, on Friday…
The Christmas tree pictured in front of National Opera building during preparations for Christmas celebration in Chisinau, Moldova. Traditionally, people from former countries of the Soviet Union, still celebrate Christmas…
LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Queen Elizabeth has cancelled a pre-Christmas lunch with her family as a precaution while cases of COVID-19 soar in Britain, a Buckingham Palace source said.…
Climate activist Greta Thunberg is the person of the year in one of the most famous 'presepi' or nativity scenes in the Naples street of presepe makers, San Gregorio Armeno…
A Roman Catholic diocese in Sicily has apologised to parents after its bishop reportedly told a group of children that Santa Claus did not exist. At a religious event last…
A man dressed as a Santa Clause costume poses in front of a giant Christmas tree which has been officially lit up with a design symbolizing the reconstruction of the…
People photograph a 'Lobster Pot Christmas Tree' in Stonington, Connecticut, USA. The tree is made up of nearly 350 modern lobster pots and decorated with hand painted buoys and lights.…
A handout photograph released by the UK Parliament shows parliamentary staff using a crane to unload and decorate the UK Parliament's Christmas tree, in the grounds of the Palace of…
A tree is lit up during a Christmas tree lighting by the mayor of Lima, Jorge Munoz Wells, in the main square of Lima, Peru on Friday evening. Via EPA-EFE/JOHN…
Prince Albert II of Monaco (R), Prince Jacques (2-R) and Princess Gabriella (2-L) during the inauguration on Friday evening of the Christmas village in Monaco. Via EPA-EFE/ERIC GAILLARD
Green lanterns on the Neapolitan crib of San Gregorio Armeno where the artisan Genny Di Virgilio has taken up the appeal for migrants who are experiencing a dramatic situation on…
The Rockefeller Centre Christmas Tree is illuminated during the 89th annual Rockefeller Centre tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Centre in New York, USA. Via EPA-EFE/JASON SZENES
British retailers reported the strongest pre-Christmas demand since 2015 this month but also the biggest price rises since 1990, as fears of shortages led shoppers to buy gifts early, figures…
BERLIN, Nov 28 (Reuters) - A surge in coronavirus cases in Germany has led to a disappointing start to the Christmas season for retailers in Europe's biggest economy, the sector…
Visitors, some wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease, stand in front of the illuminated Christmas tree at the Winter Wonder and Christmas Market on the Grand…
A couple takes a selfie inside a tunnel decorated with Christmas lights as part of a lights show at the Botanical Garden La Concepcion in Malaga, Spain. Via EPA-EFE/Daniel Perez
A musician tunes his violine in front of the sculpture 'IN CANTO' by Naples-based sculptor Lello Esposito in the lobby of the Mediterraneo hotel in Naples, Italy, where it serves…
A young woman wearing protective face masks touches autumn coloured leaves during a Christmas illuminations event in Tokyo, Japan, 26 November 2021. On 26 November, Japan reported 121 new cases…
Britain could face a shortage of alcohol this Christmas unless the government steps up its efforts to address a lack of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers, the wine and spirits…
A handout photo made available by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru shows the blessing ceremony of the central pieces that will be part of the Peruvian Andes nativity…
A nun looks on as a crane places a Christmas tree, a spruce of 28 meters high in St. Peter's Square, Vatican City. This year’s red fir (Picea abies) comes…
Mariah Carey never set out to make Christmas "her holiday". The 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' hitmaker admitted while she's become synonymous with the festive season, she was…
Crowd of tourists, almost all wearing protective face masks, in front of the art shops of the crib of San Gregorio Armeno where on Friday evening the 150th edition of…
The festive opening of the new Christmas season at the Westfield Mall of the Netherlands in Leidschendam, The Netherlands. The Mall of the Netherlands officially opened in March 2021, and…
A view of a Christmas tree set up in Piazza Municipio square, near the Maschio Angioino Castle and the port in Naples, southern Italy. Walter Ricciardi, a top physician and…
Shoppers could be looking at an expensive Christmas as supply chain snafus force companies to make and deliver their latest higher margin electronic gadgets to market faster, leaving fewer cheaper…
Issa Annis Kassissieh, known as Jerusalem Santa, looks over the Sea of Galilee as he takes part in a pre-Christmas greetings event for the holiday season in the Golan Heights.…
Clothing and food customers of British retailer Marks & Spencer will be able to buy what they want this Christmas despite supply chain disruption, its boss said on Wednesday. "As…
BERLIN, Nov 8 (Reuters) - German retailers are expecting Christmas sales to rise 2% to 111.7 billion euros ($129.06 billion) despite inflation, delivery problems and a new wave of coronavirus…
A giant Christmas tree adorns a central park at a commercial mall in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines. As the Philippines continues to expand its COVID-19 vaccination nationwide and lockdown…
Christmas trading will be safe from supply chain problems, the boss of shipping firm Maersk has told the BBC - adding, "at least that's what I'm hearing from our customers".The…
LONDON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Christmas may be difficult as the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, England's deputy chief medical officer warned on Wednesday, urging people to behave with caution…
BERLIN, Oct 27 (Reuters) - German sportswear company Puma on Wednesday advised people to shop early for Christmas as supply bottlenecks and manufacturing disruptions would mean a shortage of its…
LONDON, Oct 27 (Reuters) - British retailers warned on Wednesday of pre-Christmas price rises after they reported the smallest year-on-year decline in the average selling price of goods in their…
Mattel Inc raised its 2021 sales forecast, saying it would overcome industry-wide shipping disruptions to ring in a strong holiday season steered by Barbie and Hot Wheels. The company has…
President Joe Biden urged the private sector to help ease supply chain blockages that are threatening to disrupt the U.S. holiday season and said the White House plans a nationwide…
White House officials, scrambling to relieve global supply bottlenecks choking U.S. ports, highways and railways, warn Americans may face higher prices and some empty shelves this Christmas season. The supply…
LONDON, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Britain's retail industry warned the government on Friday that unless it moves to alleviate an acute shortage of truckers in the next 10 days then…
The OBSERVER - "In normal times, January is the month for counting the cost of Christmas. The credit card bills arrive. New year resolutions are made. The consequences of recent…
VATICAN CITY, Dec 25 (Reuters) - Pope Francis in his Christmas message on Friday said political and business leaders must not allow market forces and patent laws to take priority over making Covid 19 vaccines available to all, condemning…
LONDON, Dec 25 (Reuters) - All many people want for Christmas this year is a simple hug, Britain's Queen Elizabeth said in her annual festive message, saying it would be…
Bangladeshi Christians offer prayers on Christmas day at the St. Mary's Cathedral Church in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 25 December 2020. Christmas is celebrated in Bangladesh and across the world on 25…
A person wearing protective face mask listens with silent disco headphones on Christmas Eve during 'The Silent Night, Christmas in the ears' event during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at…
Indian Christians light candles after attending the Christmas prayers at the Infant Jesus church in Bangalore, India, 25 December 2020. Most Christians celebrate Christmas on 25 December to commemorate the…
People wearing protective masks attend a Christmas day mass at a church in Bangkok, Thailand, 25 December 2020. Although Thailand is a Buddhist country, the minority of Christians in the…
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis celebrated a low-key Christmas Eve Mass made sombre by the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday and said people should feel obliged to help the needy…
The President of Malta and his wife exchanged rhe traditional Season’s greetings with the Prime Minister, Robert Abela, and Mrs Abela; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anġlu Farrugia; Chief…
The prospect of a Christmas without large-scale celebrations is preying on minds. After the widespread cancellation of pantomimes, festive light “switch-ons” and other community activities, it seems likely that 2020’s…
People visit a Christmas market in a shopping mall in Beijing, China, 20 December 2020. Christmas traditions in China's capital Beijing have become cherished not only among foreigners but locals…