Merry Christmas 2017: Here’s how the world is celebrating Xmas

Over the centuries, Christmas has become one of the biggest festivals celebrated across the world. Celebrations start with Christmas Eve (December 24) and continue till Boxing Day (December 26). The day marks the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and the second of the Holy Trinity of Christianity (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit). People usually prefer celebrating Christmas holidays with family and close friends. Religious people attend the midnight mass at their respective churches and look forward to an elaborate feast on this day. Click through to see how the festival is celebrated around the globe.

See here Pope Francis during the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. (Source: AP)

Pope Francis kisses a statue of Baby Jesus as he celebrates the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. (Source: AP)

Pope Francis delivers a blessing at the end of the Christmas Eve Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. (Source: AP)

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa, center, leads a Christmas midnight Mass at the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. (Source: AP)

Christians attend the midnight Christmas mass eve in Cathedral of St. Mother Teresa in Kosovo capital Pristina. (Source: AP)

A Catholic nun assists Kosovar children dressed as angels prior the midnight Christmas mass eve in Cathedral of St. Mother Teresa in Kosovo capital Pristina. (Source: AP)

Special Christmas vigil mass held at Cathedral of the Holy Name on Christmas Eve in Colaba, Mumbai. (Source: Express photo by Vignesh Krishnamoorthy)

A girl looks on as Christmas celebrations takes place in Cathedral of the Holy Name. (Source: Express photo by Vignesh Krishnamoorthy)

A choir singing Christmas carol at Cathedral of the Holy Name. (Source: Express photo by Vignesh Krishnamoorthy)

People participate in a laughter club as part of Christmas Celebration at Girgaum Chowpatty, Mumbai. (Source: Express Photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)

Children dressed as Santa Claus takes part in a laughter club in Mumbai. (Source: Express Photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)

Devotees participate in special prayers on Christmas Day, in New Delhi. (Source: AP)

Priests and clergy process to attend the Christmas celebration midnight Mass at the Cathedral-Basilical in Vilnius, Lithuania. (Source: AP)

A couple have their photo taken by a surf lifesaver at Bondi Beach on Christmas day in Sydney, Australia. Backpackers and other tourists join locals on the beach to celebrate each Christmas. (Source: AP)

Seen here Christmas celebrations in Islamabad, Pakistan. (Source: AP)

People gather at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, New Delhi on Christmas eve to celebrate the festival at midnight. (Source: PTI)

A couple wearing festive costumes share a kiss after a parade to celebrate the Christmas Almaty, Kazakhstan. (Source: Reuters)

Members of a Palestinian marching band parade during Christmas celebrations outside the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. (Source: Source: Reuters)

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa gestures upon his arrival through an Israeli checkpoint to attend Christmas celebrations, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. (Source: Reuters)

A worshipper prays inside the Church of the Nativity during Christmas celebrations in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. (Source: Reuters)

Worshipper pray inside the Church of the Nativity during Christmas celebrations in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Christmas eve. (Source: Reuters)

People taking part in a Christmas singing event at the 'Alte Foersterei' stadium of second division soccer club of Union Berlin, in Berlin, Germany. (Source: AP)

A man dressed as Santa Claus sells Christmas decorative objects at West point in Monrovia Liberia on Christmas eve. (Source: Reuters)

A reveler wearing a festive hat runs with a pram during a parade to celebrate the upcoming Christmas and New Year in Almaty, Kazakhstan. (Source: Reuters)