In Pictures: Christmas celebrations around the world

Traditional Christmas Day swimmers at the Orankesee lake in Berlin, Germany (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Christians around the world have been marking Christmas Day although it was a muted day in Bethlehem, where the conflict in Gaza has overshadowed festivities.

Worshippers gathered at churches for midnight mass and other services while some chose to take a festive dip to mark the holiday.