WAFA - Palestine News Agency - Gaza,Gaza Strip,Palestine
RAMALLAH, December 26, 2005 (WAFA) - President Mahmoud Abbas sent Monday a Christmas Congratulation letter to Pope Benedict XVI.

He wished Pope Benedict XVI a merry Christmas and lifelong happiness, thanking him for his generosity during his recent visit to the Vatican...

Press Trust of India - New Delhi,India
The faithful congregated in large numbers at midnight masses held in cathedrals and churches of various Christian denominations across the state.

Senior prelates and priests led the mass, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.

Churches were illuminated and tastefully crafted cribs and Christmas trees decorated the church yards...

San Francisco Chronicle - CA, USA
Baghdad -- Christmas songs in Arabic echo into the courtyard from a tiny annex, next to the incomplete main building of St. George Greek Catholic Church. Inside, Father Vincent conducts choir practice for the Christmas Day celebration...

Bangor Daily News - Bangor,ME,USA
When Latin Patriarch of the Holy Land Michel Sabbah celebrates Mass in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem this Christmas Eve, events in the "little town" may have gone full circle from where they were 20 years ago.

... of 50,000 pilgrims thronged te little town on each day of the Roman Catholic Christmas as well as on the Greek and Armenian Orthodox Christmases several weeks ...

SouthFlorida.com - Fort Lauderdale,FL,USA
A Christmas tree is installed for New Year and Christmas celebrations in Red Square in Moscow on Dec. 23 with St. Basil Cathedral in the background. Christmas falls on Jan. 7 for Orthodox Christians in the Holy Land, Russia and other Eastern Orthodox churches that use the old Julian calendar...

Exeter News-Letter - Exeter,NH,USA
To members of the Eastern Orthodox Church, in which at least 95 percent or all Greeks claim membership, Christmas ranks second to Easter as far as holidays go. However, there are still a number of unique Greek customs associated with Christmas that make it a boisterous time.

In Greece and for those families who stick with tradition, gift-giving begins on Dec. 6 with the Feast of St. Nicholas. This day is marked with an exchange of some presents and begins a season that lasts through Jan. 6 with the Feast of the Epiphany...