The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in an unprecedented time onto the world – technology has made its way into the church, masks have barricaded Christmas cookies from entering our mouths; Christmas gifts have to be sanitised before opening them up; and even Santa has filled his sack with vaccines instead of candies and goodies. Despite the pandemic’s attempt to cast its shadow onto the festive season, it has seemingly failed to dampen the Christmas spirit.
Here’s how the world celebrated Christmas all around the world:

Christmas spirits are high in the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli, Syria as a man in Santa Claus’s attire rings a bell to add to the holiday fervour. 
A Christmas morning mass led by Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa (centre) at the Church of Nativity, the site where Jesus Christ is believed to have been born in the biblical city of Bethlehem.
A Christian worshipper wearing a face mask lights a candle in St. Mary’s Church, Germany prior to an outdoor mass.
People donning festive antlers in the spirit of Christmas enjoy a stroll along an almost empty Bondi Beach, Sydney on December 25, 2020 as coronavirus disrupted Christmas celebrations.
Pope Francis kissed a figurine of baby Jesus to conclude the Christmas eve mass to mark the nativity of Jesus Christ at St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican city.
A worker wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) disinfects a Christmas tableau at Holy Redeemer Church, Bangkok in the early hours of December 25, 2020.
Yoido Full Gospel Church, South Korea organised a virtual Christmas service attended by many on December 25, 2020 amid precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A man dressed as Santa Claus engaged in conversation with a man dressed as Mr Grinch at the Times Square in New York.