Despite wars, fires, and challenges: How christmas was celebrated in 2024

After the service of God, most people go to rest, and often celebrate Christmas with peculiar rituals. Christmas was celebrated in different countries around the world despite the challenges and hardships after the fires and overthrow of regimes. 

The feast at the Vatican kicked off the Jubilee Year, a special period in the Catholic Church. Despite the war in the Middle East, the bells also rang in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. For the first time since the fire, Mass was served in Notre Dame.

A special Christmas at the Vatican. The Pope opens the symbolic Holy Door of Jubilee, which marks the beginning of the Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church. It is a year of special absolution that falls once every 25 years. After the Christmas Night Mass, the pontiff addresses the faithful on Christmas Day itself. From the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, he proclaims the apostolic message “Urbi et orbi” – to the city of Rome and the world. He says that the door of God’s heart is always open to all, it is the Door of Salvation through which all can return to Christ. Traditionally, the Pontiff speaks about hot spots in the world where there is war. He also mentions Ukraine. There is no call in his message for Russia to stop. However, there is a call, not addressed to anyone in particular, to open the door for negotiations:

“Let the guns fall silent in long-suffering Ukraine! Let there be enough courage to open the doors of negotiation and gestures of dialog and encounter to achieve a just and lasting peace.”

In his speech, the Pope also mentions the Middle East. He speaks of Christian communities in several countries – in Palestine and Israel, Lebanon and Syria, and Libya. Despite the difficult situation – Christmas masses were held in each of these states. Thus, in Bethlehem, the city where Christ was born and in the Church of the Nativity, the morning service is conducted by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzaballa.

Christmas bells go off in Christian churches in Syria. This is the first Christmas since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. On Christmas Eve, Christians protested in Damascus demanding more protection for their religion from the new government. And warned of a possible persecution of Christians. Despite the fears, the Christmas services were peaceful.

“This year’s Christmas is definitely unlike any other. A lot of changes have happened and there is a new birth for a new life. There are many reservations, but life is almost normal. People are praying, we are taking security measures against any possible personal acts of violence. But we all believe and are convinced that the future will be better for everyone,” said George Dawood, scout leader of the Church of the Cross.

Also Damascus resident Ghada Hannoun said: “We hope that the birth of Jesus will be the new birth of a nation where security and peace will reign.”

It’s a special Christmas in Paris, too. Here they are holding the first Christmas Eve service in Notre Dame, which was renovated after the fire. The Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris was badly damaged by fire in April 2019. Then, for the first time in 2,000 years, Christmas Mass was not held here. And it was not canceled even during the First and Second World Wars. The resumption of services is a real joy and a Christmas miracle for Parisians. The cathedral can accommodate 2 thousand 700 believers. The Neapolitan creche installed in the cathedral is a special decoration of the current festivities.

World politicians, monarchs and officials also wish Merry Christmas. In his Christmas address, King Charles III thanks the doctors who treated him and his daughter-in-law Catherine, Prince William’s wife, for their cancer treatment. And the address itself is symbolically recorded in the hospital chapel. The British royal family traditionally attended the service in the church at the royal residence Sandringham.

After God’s service, most people go to rest, celebrating Christmas with peculiar rituals. For example, in Germany, the Berlin Walruses club gathered for a traditional New Year’s Day swim in Lake Oranke. The tradition has existed for about 40 years. Walruses bathe in icy water, sing carols and wish each other a Merry Christmas. They assure – such bathing is very good for health.

“You go out and you find yourself in complete euphoria, especially for the first time, because you’ve done it! The whole next day you’re happy, you’re cheerful, you’re alert, you have so much energy. It’s just a great feeling. And I have to say that this is the third winter that I haven’t caught a cold,” emphasized Peggy Müller, chairwoman of the Berlin Walruses.

Christmas on the water – and in Florida. Hundreds of people gathered for the sixteenth time for the annual surfing in Santa Claus suits. The event is charitable – here they collected donations for the treatment of cancer patients and for the development of the Florida Surfing Museum. This year they collected more than a hundred thousand dollars.

In Australia, there is an opportunity to celebrate Christmas on the beach under the hot sun. Crowded Bondi Beach in Sydney: everyone wants to take a photo in a swimsuit under the Christmas tree. They wish their relatives not only a bright, but also a warm Christmas – if not literally, then at least figuratively.