Photos of Christmas celebrations around the world

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From Bethlehem to Beijing, people around the world are celebrating the Christmas season. A polar bear mascot boards an elevator during holiday revelry. Swimmers plunge into frigid waters off Northern Ireland for a charity event. Singers fill a stadium in Indonesia.

Associated Press photographers have captured diverse, mesmerizing images such as these as they chronicle a holiday period abounding in joy, reverence and dazzling lights.

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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

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Photos of Christmas celebrations around the world

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Photos of Christmas celebrations around the world

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