The holiday comes to us

• The holiday comes to us

Christmas Day will come only on December 25, but already hard preparing for the holiday in the US and Europe. Christmas is celebrated, even in countries where it is not so clearly expressed in the Christian tradition.

Collected here are photos of the preparation of one of the favorite holidays, made in various parts of the world.

Christmas angels and Santa Claus riding on segveyyah in Berlin. Santa opened an agency for young people who want to feel like Santa Clauses and Christmas angels.

Jason and Emily Gray from the biennial twins Lacey and Ashley, under the holiday lights at the annual ceremony to light the Christmas tree in Boise, Idaho.

The trumpeter plays in the tower during the opening ceremony of the lighting of the Christmas market and the Christmas tree on the Old Town Square in Prague.

discount lovers break into the shop during Black Friday in Covington, Louisiana.

Balloons indicating Discounts Store Oakland, on Black Friday.

Windy LaFerni (right) checks the mail while her 4-year-old son Casey plays the game with his grandmother in a tent in front of Nicky shop in Mesquite, Texas. The family set up a tent late at night to be the first to rush into a department store in the big discounts night.

Santa Claus waving to the crowd during the 26th annual Christmas parade in London.

19-foot white spruce are loaded onto a truck for a 20-day trip to Washington, where it was installed in the square. The tradition of "national tree" began in 1964. After the tree served its purpose, it is converted to mulch and sprayed in the gardens of the Capitol.

German bicycle designer Didi Senft, known as El Diablo poses in front of his huge Christmas creation in Stork.

The traditional fireworks display on Regent Street in London.

Forester Peter Otto with Christmas trees during the official opening of the Christmas season in Stolpe, Germany.

The workers painted tree on the street in Manila.

A man dressed as Santa Claus surrounded by children, giving him a list with gifts in Santa's office in Himmelpforten. Children can submit their lists of desires in Himmelpforg from around the world and get a response from Santa Claus.

Women respond to letters addressed to Santa Claus office in Himmelpforten. Organizers expect to receive about 280 thousand letters from children in 17 languages.

People take pictures of the Christmas tree during the annual event in Guatemala, during which the entire country is lit Christmas trees.

A diver dressed as Santa feeding white shark aquarium in Yokohama.

The parents take pictures of children in a shopping mall in Hong Kong.

The Lebanese workers decorate the Christmas tree that says "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" in English, French and Arabic in Beirut.

The ballet company "Radio City Rockettes" is a traditional New Year's dessert in New York. The dessert is served in a cup with marmalade sauce and consists of 14 mixed liquor. Dessert decorated with honey crackers, chocolate and brand glow sticks.

The queue for the Christmas lottery tickets "El Gordo" in Madrid.

Christmas shop window in Paris.

Showcase in New York City attracts buyers. The New York store owners know how to attract passers-by.

People walk past the studio Lady Gaga in an expensive department store in New York. The company "Barneys" has teamed up with Lady Gaga for the pre-campaign.

People participate in the ceremony of sending a Christmas tree to the Vatican, near Rakhiv, Ukraine. Each year, any country gives a Christmas tree, which will decorate St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

A sheep in a Christmas costume on a promotional event at a park in Yungine, South Korea.

Christmas market in Frankfurt. Organizers expect three million visitors this year.

Christmas garlands in Vienna.

Worker installs the Christmas tree in a shopping center in Beijing.

Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia (right) goes to the ceremony of getting the Christmas tree in the White House in Washington.

The fishermen put the network in the morning during the annual fishing season, the fish in the pond near Trebon, Czech Republic, on the eve of Christmas sales.

The workers loaded trees in the park the truck in Helmsley, England.

Christmas balls with snow on the traditional market in Nuremberg.

A tourist looks at a deer on the background of the financial district of Singapore.

The Franciscan monks participate in the ritual service of the Franciscan fathers in the church of Santa Katrina in the territory of the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem.

Visitors look at an unusual nativity scenes architect Fernando Martinez in Tegucigalpa. Here a scene of a wave of violence in the country - in Honduras the highest crime rates in the world, as well as the scene of the death of Osama bin Laden and Muammar Gaddafi.

Fireworks over the tree during its lighting ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.

Santa Claus Students learn to talk and walk like Santa on the eve of Christmas in the "Academy of Santa Claus" in Tokyo.

Merchant pours hot wine on the market near the Strasbourg Cathedral in France. The oldest Christmas market in France, in Strasbourg, working since 1570.