After many images of Santa Claus, bright lights, and shopping malls, here is one last photo visit to Christmas focusing on the holy aspect—the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ and the varying Christian observances taking place around the world, often at midnight. Gathered here are Christmas services and observances from China, Kenya, Iran, Iraq, England, the U.S., India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Israel, France, and many more countries.
Photos of Midnight Mass and Holy Observances of Christmas
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Believers of Legio Maria of African Church Mission hold candles during their overnight Christmas Mass at the church near Ugunja, the western part of Kenya, early on December 25, 2017. #
Fredrik Lerneryd / AFP / Getty -
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An Armenian priest is seen inside the Church of the Nativity as people gather for Christmas celebrations in the town of Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on December 24, 2017. #
Musa Al Shaer / AFP / Getty -
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Belarusian girls prepare themselves for a performance before a mass in celebration of Christmas in a Catholic church in the town of Dyatlovo, Belarus, on December 25, 2017. #
Vasily Fedosenko / Reuters -
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Priests and clergy process to attend the Christmas celebration midnight mass at the Cathedral-Basilical in Vilnius, Lithuania, on December 24, 2017. Over 80 percent of Lithuanians are Christians who celebrate the festival of Christmas on December 25. #
Mindaugas Kulbis / AP -
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An Indian girl prays during the midnight Christmas mass at Saint Joseph's Cathedral in Lucknow, India, on December 25, 2017. While Hindus and Muslims comprise the majority of the population, Christmas is also observed as a national holiday in India. #
Rajesh Kumar Singh / AP -
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Faithful believers pray beneath a painting depicting Jesus Christ, lit with Christmas lights, during Midnight mass at the Nuestra Senora Del Carmen Church on Christmas Eve on December 24, 2017, in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. The mass finished well before midnight this year to accommodate those who live in areas without electricity. The church ran the mass with a generator. Barely three months after Hurricane Maria made landfall, approximately one third of the devastated island is still without electricity. #
Mario Tama / Getty -
A Christian woman prays in the Holy Family Catholic Church during Christmas on December 25, 2017 in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-administered Kashmir. The disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir has a small population of Christians, hundreds of whom join mass at the Holy Family Catholic church on Christmas and pray for peace and prosperity of the region. #
Yawar Nazir / Getty -
A child dressed as an angel plays a hand clap game with an altar statue prior the midnight Christmas mass in the Cathedral of St. Mother Teresa in Kosovo's capital of Pristina on December 24, 2017. #
Visar Kryeziu / AP -
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A Christian worshipper attends the Christmas mass at the Saint Joseph Chaldean-Assyrian Catholic church, in Tehran, Iran, on December 25, 2017. While Iranian Christians are a minority, they are recognized by the constitution in the Muslim country and are represented in the parliament. #
Vahid Salemi / AP -
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Choristers from the Salisbury Cathedral Choir have their final practice ahead of the services to be held in the cathedral marking Christmas on December 22, 2017 in Salisbury, England. Christmas has been celebrated in the cathedral for over 750 years, ever since it was dedicated in 1258. #
Matt Cardy / Getty
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