A Covid Christmas: Worn out festivities, socially distant masses

Like most festivities this year, people celebrated Christmas around the world amid the Covid-19 pandemic, albeit with Covid-19 protocols in place. (AP)

Instead of the usual bustling midnight masses on Christmas eve, the footfall in churches across India was really low. (Express Photo by Amit Mehra in New Delhi)

People observed social distancing norms and wore face coverings while praying. (AP)

In most cases, the usual midnight masses were replaced by virtual ones. Due to the pandemic, online meet-ups and virtual gatherings have become the order of the day for celebrations among people. (Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh)

Decorations based on themes of farmers protest and Corona Warriors on display at a church in Sector 19, Chandigarh on Christmas eve. (Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh)

After distributing sweets, NSS volunteers dressed up as Santa Claus playing with kids at a construction site in Panjab University, Chandigarh on Christmas eve. (Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh)

Kolkata's Park Street wears a deserted look on Christmas eve. (Express Photo by Shashi Gosh)

For many around the world, staying at home was the safest way to celebrate Christmas. (AP)

A child poses for photos outside the Wangfujing Church in Beijing on Friday, Dec. 25, 2020. Official churches in the Chinese capital abruptly cancelled mass on Christmas day in a last-minute move owing to the pandemic. The capital city is on high alert after new confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported last week and new asymptomatic cases reported Christmas day. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Christians on the screen attend an online Christmas service for social distancing and a precaution against the coronavirus at the Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Dec. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A group of kids receive gifts in Mexico. The country received 3,000 doses of the Pfizer covid-19 vaccine on Wednesday.(AP)

Due to the Covid-19 restrictions around the world, millions of people were forced to limit the usual Christmas festivities. (AP)

In his Christmas eve message, Pope Francis expressed his desire to visit crisis-hit Lebanon and urged political leaders in South Sudan to continue working for peace. (AP)

The Covid-19 pandemic has claimed over 1.7 billion lives around the globe as countries start to roll out vaccines for their citizens. (Express photo by Gurmeet Singh)