Christmas celebrations pictured getting under way across the globe

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As Christmas Day was ushered in around the globe, thousands gathered at churches to pay their respects and pray
Groups of friends and families were spotted enjoying the sun and taking selfies in Australia on Christmas morning
Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter's Basilica with hundreds of children and worshippers
In Taiwan, residents came together for a carol concert in New Taipei city while in New York temperatures hit 23C

By Jennifer Newton and Lydia Willgress for MailOnline

Published: 19:00 EST, 24 December 2015 | Updated: 14:11 EST, 25 December 2015

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Celebrations are getting underway across the globe as millions of people ushered in Christmas Day.

Groups of girls took to Bondi beach in bikinis to top up their tans and grab a quick selfie in Sydney, Australia, while others attended mass, came together for concerts and tucked their excited children into bed in anticipation of Santa's visit.

Thousands more gathered at churches and cathedrals to pay their respects and pray, with worshippers who travelled to the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, West Bank, on Christmas Eve spotted praying and shedding tears as Christmas Eve came to an end.

In Germany, members of the Berlin Seals swimming club stripped down to enjoy a festive dip in Lake Orankesee in the German capital

Most of the club members wore festive outfits as they celebrated Christmas with a dip in the lake's freezing waters this morning

Two swimmers brave the freezing waters as they take part in their traditional Christmas Day swim in Lake Orankesee, Berlin, earlier today

A man dressed as a clown jumps into the water at the start of the Nadal Cup swimming event at the Port of Barcelona in Spain

The occasion looked much less joyous in The Jungle II, a migrant camp in Calais, France, were Christians were seen quietly preying to pictures of Jesus and other religious figures in a makeshift church

One man kneels on the floor beside what seems to be an altar of sorts, preying before a picture of Jesus on the day of his birth

Christians were also pictured going to churches around the world in places such as Kenya and Iraq, where worshippers were searched and escorted into church under armed guard.

Children in New Zealand and Australian were the first to discover whether Santa had paid them a visit, with many unwrapping their haul of presents by the time the rest of the world was yet to wake up.

Residents were spotted enjoying the surf and sun as temperatures hit 23C (73F) in Australia on Christmas morning. Others dressed as Santa as they walked along the country's long promenades.

Meanwhile, Christians and families crowded into Bethlehem's Manger Square to admire an impressive Christmas tree and listen to holiday music played by marching bands and scout troops.

An Iraqi guard stands guard outside an Anglican Church in Baghdad, where Christians were quietly celebrating Christmas due to unrest in the country

Inside the church worshippers sang and prayed as they celebrated the birth of Christ at the Anglican Church in Baghdad today

An Iraqi girl claps along to the music as her Christian family attend a Christmas Day service at a church in Baghdad this morning

A Greek Orthodox priest leads Palestinian altar boys as they conduct a Christmas Day service at St George Orthodox Church in the West Bank

The priest kneels down to pray at the church which is one of the oldest Christian holy places in the world to celebrate Christmas

A Palestinian Christian man makes his way to church to attend the service at St George Church in the West Bank

QUEEN SPENDS CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS WITH THE ROYAL FAMILY AT THEIR SANDRINGHAM ESTATE IN ENGLAND

The Queen spent Christmas with her family at the impressive Sandringham estate in England where most of the royals traditionally spend the holidays.

Today, she attended a private family church service near Sandringham House in Norfolk, along with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, her son, Prince Charles and grandsons Prince William and Harry.

William arrived with his wife, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, although their children George and Charlotte stayed at home for the church service.

The Queen joined family members including Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, for a private family church service near their royal estate at Sandringham, where most of the family spend the holidays every year

Earlier today, her annual Christmas address was aired, something watched by millions of Britons every year on December 25, in which she talked about light triumphing over darkness

The Queen, 89, and most of the other royals went back to Sandringham House for Christmas lunch, but William and Kate went back to Anmer House on the estate, where they dined with her family, the Middletons.

Earlier in the day, the Queen gave her annual address to the nation, when she talked about light triumphing over darkness after a difficult year in Europe, in which more than 100 people were killed in terrorist attacks in Paris.

But the Queen, whose address contained a traditionally strong religious framework, reflecting her own faith, sounded optimistic in quoting a verse from the Bible - insisting ISIS, or any other terror network, will not ever succeed in their twisted extremist agenda.

Anne, the Princess Royal, looked in good spirits as she accompanied her father, the Duke of Edinburgh, while the Duke of York was joined by his children, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice.

Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex walked alongside their children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn. Some 1,000 well-wishers gathered braved bad weather to join in the festivities, which started with the National Anthem and the hymn Angels From The Realm Of Glory.

Rula Maayah, the Palestinian Tourism Minister, was one of many officials to speak out about the importance of today's religious event.

She said: 'We're in Bethlehem celebrating Christmas, celebrating the birthday of our lord Jesus Christ. This is the birthplace of the king of peace so what we want is peace.'

Italian nun Sister Donatella, who spoke as she walked into the square with several drummers, added that it was 'important to be here, to react and send a message of peace for Christmas'.

It was business as usual for NATO troops stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan but one did get into the Christmas spirit by wearing a Santa hat

NATO troops were treated to a selection of Christmas cakes and cookies while celebrating Christmas in Kabul, Afghanistan today

Groups of girls took to Bondi beach in bikinis to top up their tans and grab a quick selfie in Australia as Christmas celebrations got underway

Residents - including this group of five - were spotted enjoying the surf and sun as temperatures hit 23C in Australia on Christmas morning

Others were spotted dressed as Santa as they walked along the country's long promenades in the early morning sun on Christmas Day

Many decided to do a little bit of exercise on Christmas Day morning, with this group of four men choosing incredibly small shorts to go surfing in in Australia

Ron Nachem from Bondi in Australia soaked up the morning sunshine on Christmas Day in Sydney

POPE FRANCIS CONDEMNS 'BRUTAL TERRORISM' IN ANNUAL ADDRESS TO CROWD OF 40,000 IN THE VATICAN

Pope Francis appeared in front of tens of thousands of Catholics who gathered to see His Holiness's annual Christmas address in Vatican City.

The Pope, wearing his famous white robes, appeared on the balcony to 40,000 people in St Peter's Basilica, and talked of peace in a world torn apart by 'brutal acts of terrorism'.

The pope also thanked the generosity of countries for showing mercy and offering shelter to desperate refugees.

Pope Francis appeared in front of tens of thousands of Catholics who gathered to see His Holiness's annual Christmas address in Vatican City

The Pope, wearing his famous white robes, appeared on the balcony to 40,000 people in St Peter's Basilica, and talked of peace in a world torn apart by 'brutal acts of terrorism'

Speaking from the loggia, he issued a Christmas Day peace appeal against poverty and extremist attacks.

He said: 'Only God's mercy can free humanity from the many forms of evil, at times monstrous evil, which selfishness spawns in our midst.'

'Where God is born, hope is born. He brings hope. Where God is born, peace is born. And where peace is born, there is no longer room for hatred and for war.'

The address takes place every years and thousands of people from all over the world flood the famous square to see the most holy Catholic on Earth speak.

This year, people from France were seen holding banners, and the Pope specifically mentioned the Paris attrocities.

Hundreds of residents sing a Christmas song and clutch torches as they wear Santa hats on Christmas Eve at a park in New Taipei city

An unusual 3D Christmas tree, decorated electronically with green, blue and pink presents, stands in the centre of New Taipei city in Taiwan

It was too much excitement for one little boy in Taiwan, who was pictured yawning during one of the Christmas numbers in New Taipei city

Fake snow rains down on people celebrating Christmas in Kathmandu, Nepal as one couple pose for a selfie on their phone

A young girl can't hide her delight at the fake snow in Nepal. The Nepalese Government officially started to mark Christmas with a national holiday after the country became a Republic in May 2008

Two young women pose with Santa Claus during an event in Kathmandu where they have been celebrating Christmas Day

Thousands of people similarly attended late-evening and midnight services at their local churches across the UK.

But in the infamous migrant camp in Calais, France, known as the Jungle II, the mood was more sombre as people arrived at makeshift churches to prey.

One man was seen kneeling before an altar of sorts, in front of a picture of Jesus and other images of Biblical figures.

Pope Francis celebrated Christmas Eve Mass in St Peter's Basilica. Children were at the heart of the celebration with some attending from countries the Pope has this year visited as pontiff.

The basilica's bells rang at the start of Thursday's late-night ceremony, which is the Pope's only public Mass for Christmas. Hymns were played on trumpets.

The basilica's bells rang at the start of Thursday's late-night ceremony, which is the Pope's only public Mass for Christmas

Hymns were played on trumpets as Pope Francis celebrated the birth of baby Jesus ahead of Christmas Day

Photographs showed the children leaving floral bouquets around a baby Jesus statue near the central altar after the Pope unveiled and gently kissed the statue.

In Taiwan, residents came together for a carol concert in New Taipei city, with hundreds of people wearing Santa hats and waving torches in the air for the event.

A multi-coloured 3D Christmas tree lit up the square, where dozens waited until late at night to catch the final seconds of Christmas Eve.

An Iranian couple take a selfie in front of a Christmas display, which includes an inflatable Santa and chimney, in central Tehran on Christmas Eve

Joggers dressed in shorts and T-shirts run in Brooklyn Bridge Park, New York, on Christmas Eve as temperatures hit more than 23C

Children and adults, many sporting T-shirts, enjoy ice skating at Woolman Rink in Central Park during the unseasonably warm weather on Christmas Eve

Meanwhile, temperatures hit more than 23C in New York, prompting residents to take to ice rinks in shorts and T-shirts.

The Big Apple set a new record for the warmest Christmas Eve since record keeping began in 1871, making a mockery of Yuletide traditions such as bulky sweaters, hot chocolate and a roaring fire.

By 2pm on Thursday, temperatures were just one degree lower than during the Fourth of July celebrations earlier this year.

A group of participants stand arm in arm wearing Santa hats before jumping into the freezing water of Barcelona's old harbour

But one place that was celebrating a white Christmas was Beijing but rather than seeing falling snow, the Chinese capital was covered in thick smog.

More than 100million people across China have been warned to stay indoors after deadly pollution associated with heavy industry blanketed the city.

One angry social media user said on Chinese social media platform Weibo: 'If this only happened a few days a year, I'd put up with it, but it's paralysing for it to be like this every day!'

The Chinese capital Beijing woke up to a White Christmas but rather than snow, thick smog blanketed the city

People are forced to wear face masks as they walk through the streets of Beijing after smog blanketed the city on Christmas Day

'Is this the new normal?'

While another wrote: 'In this kind of weather, can Santa even find Beijing?'

Elsewhere in Germany, members of the Berliner Seehunde, or Berlin Seals swimming club, took the freezing waters of the Orankesee lake as part of their traditional Christmas swimming session in the German capital.