Festive spirit around the world Photogallery

01 / 19

A man dressed as Santa Claus poses as he prepares for Christmas on the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, Northern Finland on December 19, 2007. (Reuters Photo/Kacper Pempel)

02 / 19

A white Beluga, wearing a Santa hat poses with a trainer during a new Christmas show at the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise aquarium in Yokohama, in Kanagawa on December 16, 2007. (AFP Photo / Yoshikazu Tsuno)

03 / 19

A trader from Bundi in Rajasthan wearing a Santa mask sits on the parapet of Nehru Bridge.(Photo/ Kalpesh Dudhia)

04 / 19

South Korean postmen dressed as Santa Claus drive away on delivery bikes as they launch an event to visit and give Christmas gifts to neighbourhoods, at the Central Post Office in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, December 20, 2007. (AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man)

05 / 19

A student admires a unique colorful lantern during the University of the Philippines' annual Lantern Parade in Manila, 19 December 2007. (AFP Photo/Romeo Gacad)

06 / 19

Shoppers walk past a Santa Clause doll on sale at a gift shop on Thursday, December 20, 2007 in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

07 / 19

Roxana Diaz, 4, cries as she sits in Santa's lap in Santiago, Wednesday, December 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Santiago Llanquin)

08 / 19

A Christmas tree is seen next to the Milan Gothic Cathedral, known as the Duomo in Italy on Wednesday, December 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

09 / 19

A man dressed as Santa Claus rides his sleigh as he prepares for Christmas on the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, northern Finland on December 19, 2007. (Reuters Photo/Kacper Pempel)

10 / 19

Students dressed with Christmas costumes at the Carol service at Bishop Cotton boys school in Bangalore on Wednesday.