Story highlights CNN asked people to send images of Christmas celebrations where they live

iReporters sent in the best shots from as far afield as Colombia, the Philippines and China

Some of the most intriguing featured light displays, markets, parades and religious services

Christmas is synonymous with colorful decorations, festive markets and extravagant quantities of food.

But while most yuletide celebrations share these general characteristics, there are of course a host of distinctive traditions and regional variations depending on where you are in the world.

That's why CNN asked you to show us exactly how Christmas is celebrated where you live. From the Philippines to Germany to Colombia and even the Pacific island of Tonga, we received over 400 wonderfully vivid submissions.

Christmas would obviously not be Christmas without Santa Claus, or Father Christmas, or Pere Noel. Whatever the name, his popularity among children (and many adults) is perennial.

Greg Reese from Cincinnati, Ohio, sent in these images of 'Santa-Con' in his home city -- an annual event where people come dressed up as Santa Claus and tread the streets doling out candy.

Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – The cold water of Barcelona's Port Vell doesn't deter this swimmer dressed up as St. Nick from joining in the Copa Nadal swimming race, a traditional holiday event in the Spanish seaport, on Tuesday, December 25. Hide Caption 1 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A car wash worker in Santa gear washes a vehicle in Amritsar, India, on December 25. Hide Caption 2 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A man decked out as Santa Claus slips through the back streets of Hamburg, Germany, on Monday, December 24. Related photos: Magnum Santas Hide Caption 3 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A Steelers fan in a Santa outfit waves his Terrible Towel during the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, December 23, in Pittsburgh. Hide Caption 4 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Members of a local yoga club perform at a public park wearing Santa Claus costumes in Hanoi, Vietnam, on December 23. Hide Caption 5 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Indian sand artist Sudersan Pattnaik works on a sand sculpture with more than 500 Santa Claus statues on the beach in Puri, India, on Saturday, December 22. Hide Caption 6 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Michael Pless, 62, catches a wave off Seal Beach, south of Los Angeles, on Friday, December 21, in California. Pless, who also runs a surfing school, has been dressing up as Santa Claus and taking to the waves in costume since the 1990s, sometimes joined by his wife, Jill, in a Mrs. Claus outfit. Hide Caption 7 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A militarized police helicopter leaves a Santa Claus atop a school in a shantytown, or favela, of Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, December 20. This St. Nick, dressed in the white and blue colors of Peace Police Units, handed out toys among the children in the Brazilian slum. Hide Caption 8 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Two Japanese Santas clean the windows of a Tokyo hotel on December 20. Hide Caption 9 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Santa auditions an alternative species to pull his sleigh at the Marineland park in Antibes, France, on Wednesday, December 19. Hide Caption 10 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Stuttgart fans don Santa hats during a German Cup match between VfB Stuttgart and 1. FC Köln on December 19 in Stuttgart, Germany. Hide Caption 11 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A man dressed in a Santa Claus costume poses with a sea lion at the animal exhibition park Marineland, in France, on December 19. Hide Caption 12 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Santa Claus walks out of the front door during a Christmas party hosted for sick children at 10 Downing Street on Monday, December 17, in London. Hide Caption 13 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Santa Claus opens his coat to reveal a Matt Schaub jersey at Reliant Stadium on Sunday, December 16, in Houston, Texas, before the Texas Longhorns played the Indianapolis Colts. Hide Caption 14 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Participants wear Santa costumes as they take part in a Santa Claus-themed race in downtown Milan, Italy, on December 16. Hide Caption 15 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A man dressed up as Santa Claus appears at a demonstration in Paris for the legalization of same-sex marriage on December 16. Hide Caption 16 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A fan stands out in his Santa Claus attire during an NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos on December 16 in Baltimore. Denver won 34-17. Hide Caption 17 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A girl points out toys to Santa Claus on Saturday, December 15, in a store in Lille, France. Hide Caption 18 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Costumed Santas crowd into a telephone booth during the Santacon pub crawl near London's Trafalgar Square on December 15. Hide Caption 19 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Revelers in Santa costumes sit on the lion statue at the base of Nelson's Column in London's Trafalgar Square on December 15. Hide Caption 20 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A member of a French anti-fur group wades into the sea during a beach protest to denounce the practice of wearing fur on December 15 in Nice, France. Hide Caption 21 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A man dressed as Santa Claus sees a patient in the pediatric ward of a hospital in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on Friday, December 14. Hide Caption 22 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A man decked out as Santa walks down Geary Street on December 14 in San Francisco. Hide Caption 23 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A man wearing a Santa Claus costume performs in downtown Rome on Thursday, December 13. Hide Caption 24 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Police check a man dressed as Santa Claus as he passes through a metal detector at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, December 12, in Washington. Hide Caption 25 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Catholics United hold a press conference with Santa Claus in front of the U.S. Capitol to rebut the GOP's budget effort in the ongoing fiscal cliff argument on December 12 in Washington. Hide Caption 26 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Icelandic philantropist Einar Sveinsson, dressed as Santa Claus, speaks with a patient in the oncology ward during a visit to the Benjamin Bloom National Children's Hospital in San Salvador, El Salvador, on Tuesday, December 11. Hide Caption 27 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A man dressed as Ded Moroz, the Russian Santa Claus, entertains children at the Ded Moroz residence in Kuzminsky Park in Moscow on Tuesday, December 11. Hide Caption 28 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A man dressed as Santa waits for customers in a wooden house in Rome on December 11. Hide Caption 29 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A diver dressed as Santa Claus poses for a photograph with children during a promotional event for the "Sardines Feeding Show with Santa Claus" at the Coex Aquarium in Seoul, South Korea, on December 11. Hide Caption 30 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Costumed participants of the annual "Best Father Frost" contest from different city districts make their way through a courtyard in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, on Monday, December 10. Hide Caption 31 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A few thousand Santa Clauses ride between Gdansk and Gdynia, Poland, on Sunday, December 9. Santa Clauses rode on scooters, motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles between the two Polish cities. Hide Caption 32 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Participants in the fourth annual Michendorf Santa Run, one wearing a camera on his head, gather shortly before the run on December 9 in Michendorf, Germany. More than 800 people took part in this year's races. Hide Caption 33 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A woman and her dog in Santa suits prepare for the annual Glasgow Santa Dash on December 9 in Glasgow, Scotland. Hide Caption 34 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Beachgoers carry a man wearing a Santa Claus costume on the Mediterranean coast on Saturday, December 8, in Nice, France. Hide Caption 35 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Takashi Inui of Frankfurt, Germany, celebrates dressed as Santa Claus after the Bundesliga match between Eintracht Frankfurt and SV Werder Bremen on December 8 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Eintracht won 4-1. Hide Caption 36 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A customer holds the door of a shopping mall for a man dressed as Santa Claus on December 8, in Berlin. Hide Caption 37 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Valery Kokoulin, 47, rings a bell on his yacht to mark the end of the sailboat season on Friday, December 7, on the Yenisei River outside Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Temperatures in the Siberian city dipped to minus 9.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Hide Caption 38 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Kokoulin stands aboard his yacht on December 7. Hide Caption 39 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – President Barack Obama greets Santa Claus with actors Neil Patrick Harris, Rico Rodriguez and musician Phillip Phillips during the 90th National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the White House on Thursday, December 6, in Washington, D.C. Hide Caption 40 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A diver dressed as a Santa Claus dives with a nurse shark in the Sea Life Aquarium in Munich, Germany, on December 6, which is St. Nicholas Day. Hide Caption 41 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Around 400 people dressed as Santa Claus arrive by train in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, on December 6. Hide Caption 42 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A man dressed as a Santa Claus waves at the port in Hamburg, Germany, on December 6. Hide Caption 43 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – People in Santa Claus outfits imitate South Korean rapper Psy's famous "Gangnam Style" dance outside offices in Seoul, South Korea, on Wednesday, December 5. The dance marked the start of a charity mission to hand out gifts to children. Hide Caption 44 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A man dressed as Santa Claus stands at The Paley Center for Media on December 5 in Beverly Hills, California. Hide Caption 45 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Santa descends on a rope during Christmas Box Launch at Wellington Arch in London's Hyde Park on Tuesday, December 4. Hide Caption 46 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Santa Claus, aka Tim Connaghan, sits in the audience while a Marine stands guard during a presentation at Ronald Reagan National Airport on Monday, December 3, as part of the Marines' Toys for Tots program. Thousand of donated toys are set to be delivered to families affected by Hurricane Sandy. Hide Caption 47 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A spectator dressed as Santa Claus and wearing an Australian green cap watches the South African team walk out onto the field at a cricket match against Australia on December 3. Hide Caption 48 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Runners dressed in Father Christmas costumes take part in the annual 5-kilometer Santa Dash in Liverpool, England, on Sunday, December 2. Many runners who refuse to run in red, the color of their football rivals Liverpool FC, wear blue to support the football team Everton FC.



Hide Caption 49 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A fan of the Baylor University Bears dresses up as Santa Claus while the Bears face the Oklahoma State University Cowboys on Saturday, December 1, in Waco, Texas. Hide Caption 50 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Competitors run in the annual 6-kilometer Santa Run in Battersea Park, London, on December 1. Hide Caption 51 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A man dressed as Santa leaves the the annual meeting of volunteer Santa Clauses and angels on December 1 in Berlin. Studentenwerk Berlin, a student organization at the German capital's technical university, hosts a general meeting for guidelines on participating in this year's events during the festive season. Hide Caption 52 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Angels and Santa Clauses gather for the annual meeting on December 1 in Berlin. Hide Caption 53 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A man dressed as Santa Claus attends Berlin's meeting of volunteer Santa Clauses and angels on December 1 in Berlin. Hide Caption 54 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Men dressed as Santa Claus carry sacks through the meeting of volunteer Santa Clauses and angels on December 1 in Berlin. Hide Caption 55 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A volunteer Santa Claus takes a nap during the general meeting outlining guidelines for Father Christmases in Berlin on December 1. Hide Caption 56 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Volunteers in New York's 110th annual Sidewalk Santa Parade cross the street on Friday, November 23. Hide Caption 57 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A diver wearing a Santa Claus costume feeds a sunfish during a Christmas show at the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise Aquarium in Yokohama, Japan, on Wednesday, November 21. The show will be held daily until Christmas Day. Hide Caption 58 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Estonian Santa Claus "Santa Aare," from left, Dutch Santa Claus "Santa Holland" and Swedish Santa Claus "Snaretomten" compete in the Kicksled Sack Race during the Santa Claus Winter Games in Gallivare, Sweden, on Saturday, November 17. Santas from around the world gathered to participate in Christmas-themed competitions that weekend. Hide Caption 59 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Santas from various countries compete in the porridge-eating contest during the Santa Claus Winter Games in Gallivare on November 17. Hide Caption 60 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – A Santa Claus representing the indigenous Sami people competes in the reindeer ride event during the Santa Claus Winter Games in Gallivare on November 17. Hide Caption 61 of 62 Photos: Photos: Santa sightings around the world Santa sightings around the world – Japanese Santa Claus "Santa Paradise Yamamoto" hits the ground in the reindeer ride event during the competition in Gallivare on November 17. Related photos: Magnum Santas Hide Caption 62 of 62

Photos: Photos: Santa HQ – If meeting Santa is on your Christmas to-do-list then a trip to Rovaniemi in Finland is a must. The village in Lapland, located just north of the Arctic Circle, has become known as the Christmas HQ -- where kids and adults can make gingerbread cookies with Mrs. Claus or enroll in Elf School. Hide Caption 1 of 12 Photos: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer...and Rudolph – Other attractions in the very north of Finland include the Ranua Zoo, home to baby polar bears, wolverines, and moose and the Sirmakko reindeer farm, where visitors can take a sled-led reindeer safari. Hide Caption 2 of 12 Photos: Ice, ice baby – Across the border over in north Sweden is the now-infamous Ice Hotel -- where visitors sleep on a bed made from blocks of frozen ice. Hide Caption 3 of 12 Photos: Strolling in Strasbourg – Every year Strasbourg creates a series of themed Christmas villages. With plenty of mulled Alsatian wines, fine food and book markets the city is turned into a visual and gastronomic wonderland. Hide Caption 4 of 12 Photos: Quebec: Christmas with an eco twist – A haven for environmentally friendly, outdoor enthusiasts, Quebec is a city that bustles with activity. If you're the type of person who likes to celebrate Christmas around a tree made from recycled sheet metal, with lights powered by the pedaling of nearby cyclists, then Quebec is your destination. Hide Caption 5 of 12 Photos: Old-world charm in the New World – Quebec's French Quarters offer modern-day Victorians candle-lit evening of stories from Charles Dickens, detailing the Christmas traditions of yore. Hide Caption 6 of 12 Photos: Piñatas, ponche and pilgrimages – In the colorful Mexican city of San Miguel de Allende, Christmas is both a solemn and a celebratory affair. The locals make pilgrimages from home to home begging for shelter as they re-enact the journey to Bethlehem. But there is also plenty of party, ponche - a mulled fruit drink - and piñatas. Hide Caption 7 of 12 Photos: Brooklyn sights – The Dyker Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York is famous for its ostentatious Christmas decorations and light displays. Neighbors try and out-do each other with holiday decorations. Hide Caption 8 of 12 Photos: Ethiopia's monolithic churches – Dating as far back as the 12th century and carved out of striking red-color blocks of volcanic rock these churches, situated roughly 200 miles north of Addis Ababa, are a sacred place of pilgrimage for those wanting to celebrate the Coptic Christmas on January 7. Hide Caption 9 of 12 Photos: Meeting kings in Barcelona – If you can manage to extend your Christmas holiday until Three King's Day on January 6, there is no better place to catch up with Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar than Barcelona where parades, floats and fireworks light up the town for huge post-December 25 street party. Hide Caption 10 of 12 Photos: Never ending Christmas – Known as the country with "the longest Christmas season in the world," Filipinos get the Christmas festivities rolling in September, and extend them well through January. The country's cities and islands are festooned with nativities, lantern parades, and Christmas bazaars. Hide Caption 11 of 12 Photos: Christmas down under – Sun-lovers who would prefer to meet santa in swimwear rather than thermals should head down to Queenstown. The New Zealand summer means you can enjoy all the adventures that the South Island has to offer without getting a frostbite or simply enjoy a hearty Christmas meal of lamb, seafood, and chicken on the barbie. Hide Caption 12 of 12

Photos: Christmas lights around the world Photos: Christmas lights around the world Naples, Florida – A reflection of Christmas in Florida. Hide Caption 1 of 14 Photos: Christmas lights around the world London, UK – The Christmas tree stands proud at Westminster Abbey. Hide Caption 2 of 14 Photos: Christmas lights around the world Vienna, Austria – A relatively understated series of Christmas lights in front of the Belvedere Palace in Vienna. Hide Caption 3 of 14 Photos: Christmas lights around the world Medellin, Colombia – An unusal array of Christmas lights envelop a truck in the city of Medellin, Colombia. Hide Caption 4 of 14 Photos: Christmas lights around the world New York, NY – The notorious Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Hide Caption 5 of 14 Photos: Christmas lights around the world Berlin, Germany – Artisanal lights go on sale at Berlin's winter market. Hide Caption 6 of 14 Photos: Christmas lights around the world Tokyo, Japan – A spectacular display of color-changing LED lights in Tokyo's Shiodome. Hide Caption 7 of 14 Photos: Christmas lights around the world Paris, France – The Champs Elysees decorated with Christmas lights. Hide Caption 8 of 14 Photos: Christmas lights around the world Copenhagen, Denmark – Christmas in the snowy city of Copenhagen. Hide Caption 9 of 14 Photos: Christmas lights around the world Wiesbaden, Germany – Flowers of lights adorn a building at Wiesbaden's Christmas Market. Hide Caption 10 of 14 Photos: Christmas lights around the world London, UK – A tasteful arrangement of Christmas lights in London. Hide Caption 11 of 14 Photos: Christmas lights around the world Lucca, Italy – A Murano Glass Christmas tree in Italy. Hide Caption 12 of 14 Photos: Christmas lights around the world Kingston, New York – Christmas lights on a house in New York. Hide Caption 13 of 14 Photos: Christmas lights around the world Senado Square, Macau – The popular Senado Square in Macau where many tourists and locals gather to enjoy a beautiful evening. Hide Caption 14 of 14

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"It's essentially a gathering of like-minded individuals who wish to both get into the Christmas spirit, as well as spread Christmas cheer to their fellow man," said Reese.

Thousands of miles away, the Philippines hosts some of the most lavish Christmas celebrations in the world -- starting in September and ending in January. They also have some of the most colorful and fascinating traditions around the holiday.

Nathaniel Molines from San Pedro in Laguna province, the Philippines, sent in these beautiful images of parols -- lanterns made traditionally from bamboo and paper used to light the way to church for worshipers living in darkened rural areas.

"This is a simple decoration that tells us that Christmas is in every corner, love is in the air," he said. "I took the picture because it reminds me the value of celebrating Christmas here in the Philippines."

Lights of a similar design were spotted thousands of miles away in Shanghai, China, by Dutch expat Irene Reijs, who captured a beautiful image of a delivery man doggedly trundling along on his bike with his wares crammed into a delivery box

"This photo for me represents Shanghai. Everything you can imagine is being delivered by these men and women on their bikes," she said.

"I was walking down the street with my camera and saw a golden shimmer at the end of the street. Then I saw this man and his bike... It made my day."

Christmas in warmer locals can bring its challenges when it comes to at least one major decorative theme -- snow.

In Barranquilla, Colombia, Canadian expat Sara Tatham captured images of some creative craftwork using white felt to ensure that at least the look of decorations at the Colegio Britanico Internacional (British International School) where she works was festive, even if the temperature was not.

"I love living in the tropics, but at this time of year I really miss seeing the lights and snow, and seeing the hustle and bustle as people buy their gifts."

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Others break with convention entirely in their Christmas decorations, such as in Cape Cod in the eastern U.S. state of Massachusetts, where photographer Marie Sager spotted a tree built with lobster cages , decorated with plastic seashells and topped with other nautical items.

"This was the most unusual tree I had ever seen," she said. "It's perfect for a town by the sea."

Christmas markets are held across the globe and are a reliable source of presents, seasonal cheer and regional delicacies.

Mary Legg in Prague, the Czech Republic, captured some beautiful images of the city's famous Christmas market and parade , held in the city's Old Town Square.

"Tourists flock in by the droves to buy small handmade presents and enjoy the winter holidays," she says.

"All kinds of scrumptious fast foods are to be had from freshly roasted meat over open spits to mulled wine and the ever great Czech beer."

Elsewhere in Europe, Angeline Hwang was captivated by the beautiful Christmas market in the German town of Hanau, the birthplace of famous fairy tale authors, the Brothers Grimm.

"I went to walk around the Christmas Market and as I looked up, there were the statues of the Grimm Brothers, standing majestically over the old city square!" she said.

"I was standing exactly where my fairy-tales began."