Christmas celebrations across Pakistan

Published December 25, 2014
Boys jump on a trampoline at a makeshift entertainment park set up in a Christian neighborhood for Christmas holiday, in Islamabad. — AP
Boys jump on a trampoline at a makeshift entertainment park set up in a Christian neighborhood for Christmas holiday, in Islamabad. — AP
A girl checks a cross pendent at a stall in the premises of the St John's Cathedral Church on Christmas day in Peshawar. — Reuters
A girl checks a cross pendent at a stall in the premises of the St John's Cathedral Church on Christmas day in Peshawar. — Reuters
Christians pray for Peshawar victims during Christmas Eve Mass in Lahore. — AP
Christians pray for Peshawar victims during Christmas Eve Mass in Lahore. — AP
Family members gather around a fire to warm themselves from the evening cold in an alley of a Christian neighborhood decorated with festive lights for Christmas in Islamabad.  — AP
Family members gather around a fire to warm themselves from the evening cold in an alley of a Christian neighborhood decorated with festive lights for Christmas in Islamabad. — AP
Shahzad Masih paints a sketch of Santa Claus on his rooftop in Islamabad. — AP
Shahzad Masih paints a sketch of Santa Claus on his rooftop in Islamabad. — AP
Christians give final touches to the Nativity scene set up in an enclosure in preparation for Christmas in Islamabad's slums. — AP
Christians give final touches to the Nativity scene set up in an enclosure in preparation for Christmas in Islamabad's slums. — AP
Christians install lights on a church in  Islamabad. — AP
Christians install lights on a church in Islamabad. — AP
A boy decorates a tree in preparation for Christmas. — AP
A boy decorates a tree in preparation for Christmas. — AP
Christians prepare a Christmas tree. — AP
Christians prepare a Christmas tree. — AP
A Pakistani Christian woman, left, walks by a painting of a Santa Claus painted on a wall of a house.  — AP
A Pakistani Christian woman, left, walks by a painting of a Santa Claus painted on a wall of a house. — AP
Children play in a street illuminated with lights on Christmas Eve. — Reuters
Children play in a street illuminated with lights on Christmas Eve. — Reuters
A woman carries her baby as she looks out of her house window in a Christian slum in Islamabad. — Reuters
A woman carries her baby as she looks out of her house window in a Christian slum in Islamabad. — Reuters
A Santa Claus figure hangs from a tree. — Reuters
A Santa Claus figure hangs from a tree. — Reuters
Men decorate a Christmas tree. — Reuters
Men decorate a Christmas tree. — Reuters
A girl stands outside a house illuminated with lights on Christmas Eve. — Reuters
A girl stands outside a house illuminated with lights on Christmas Eve. — Reuters
A man cleans the ground outside the St Johns Cathedral Church in Peshawar. — Reuters
A man cleans the ground outside the St Johns Cathedral Church in Peshawar. — Reuters
A girl stands at an entrance of her house in Islamabad. — Reuters
A girl stands at an entrance of her house in Islamabad. — Reuters
A girl runs down the aisle in a Christmas mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Karachi. — AFP
A girl runs down the aisle in a Christmas mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Karachi. — AFP
Christians take communion during a Christmas mass at a church in Quetta.— AFP
Christians take communion during a Christmas mass at a church in Quetta.— AFP
Pakistani balloon vendors wait for customers near an outdoor Mass on Christmas Day. — AP
Pakistani balloon vendors wait for customers near an outdoor Mass on Christmas Day. — AP

Christians around the world, celebrate Christmas Day, a holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. This year the celebrations in Pakistan have been toned down out of respect for Peshawar victims. The simple celebrations began on Christmas Eve with prayer services in the churches. The festivities will include distributing gifts among children, singing hymns, prayers, and attending Mass.

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