Countdown to Christmas

Updated 8:06 AM ET, Thu December 26, 2013

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Members of the Berlin Seals group wade into chilly Lake Orankesee in Berlin on Wednesday, December 25. Swimming on Christmas day is a tradition with winter swimmers. Take a look at other lighthearted or interesting moments around the world related to Christmas:

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Countdown to Christmas – Members of the Berlin Seals group wade into chilly Lake Orankesee in Berlin on Wednesday, December 25. Swimming on Christmas day is a tradition with winter swimmers. Take a look at other lighthearted or interesting moments around the world related to Christmas:

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Countdown to Christmas – A child enjoys artificial snow at a shopping mall in Singapore on Tuesday, December 24.

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Ruben Torres, dressed in a Santa Claus outfit, waves to people from a boat with fishermen along the coast of Valparaiso, Chile, on December 24. Every year, fishermen in Valparaiso organize a Santa Claus boat trip as people wait on the shore to receive their Christmas presents and well-wishes.

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Countdown to Christmas – Ruben Torres, dressed in a Santa Claus outfit, waves to people from a boat with fishermen along the coast of Valparaiso, Chile, on December 24. Every year, fishermen in Valparaiso organize a Santa Claus boat trip as people wait on the shore to receive their Christmas presents and well-wishes.

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Countdown to Christmas – An Indonesian Javanese Christian prays during Christmas Eve Mass in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on December 24.

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People act out a nativity scene during the unveiling ceremony of the crib in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on December 24.

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Countdown to Christmas – People act out a nativity scene during the unveiling ceremony of the crib in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on December 24.

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Countdown to Christmas – A water-skiing Santa Clause and a reindeer head down the Potomac River at National Harbor, Maryland, on December 24.

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More than 1,000 volunteers clad in Santa Claus costumes throw their hats in the air as they gather to deliver gifts for the poor in downtown Seoul, South Korea, on December 24.

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Countdown to Christmas – More than 1,000 volunteers clad in Santa Claus costumes throw their hats in the air as they gather to deliver gifts for the poor in downtown Seoul, South Korea, on December 24.

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A diver dressed as Santa Claus surfaces after swimming in the Coral Garden tank at the South East Asia Aquarium of Resorts World Sentosa, a popular tourist attraction in Singapore, on December 24.

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Countdown to Christmas – A diver dressed as Santa Claus surfaces after swimming in the Coral Garden tank at the South East Asia Aquarium of Resorts World Sentosa, a popular tourist attraction in Singapore, on December 24.

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A man dressed as Santa Claus from Lapland, Finland, listens to a girl's Christmas wish on stage at a Christmas event organized by the Finnish Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday, December 23.

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Countdown to Christmas – A man dressed as Santa Claus from Lapland, Finland, listens to a girl's Christmas wish on stage at a Christmas event organized by the Finnish Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday, December 23.

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Countdown to Christmas – A chimpanzee opens a package filled with treats at a zoo in La Fleche, France, on December 23.

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Countdown to Christmas – British troops at Patrol Base Lash Durai in Afghanistan get into the festive spirit December 23.

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An ultra-Orthodox Jew walks beneath a Palestinian man dressed up as Santa Claus along the walls of Jerusalem's Old City on Sunday, December 22.

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Countdown to Christmas – An ultra-Orthodox Jew walks beneath a Palestinian man dressed up as Santa Claus along the walls of Jerusalem's Old City on Sunday, December 22.

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Rowers dressed in Santa Claus costumes take part in the Christmas Regatta on the Grand Canal on Saturday, December 21, in Venice, Italy.

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Countdown to Christmas – Rowers dressed in Santa Claus costumes take part in the Christmas Regatta on the Grand Canal on Saturday, December 21, in Venice, Italy.

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Michael Wheeler of Kansas City, makes one of his seven laps around Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, December 22, before the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts. The 63-year-old marathon runner performs this ritual before each Chiefs home game.

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Countdown to Christmas – Michael Wheeler of Kansas City, makes one of his seven laps around Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, December 22, before the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts. The 63-year-old marathon runner performs this ritual before each Chiefs home game.

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Countdown to Christmas – A timber truck driver dressed as Father Frost is seen at the Kremlin's Spasskiye [Saviour] Gate on Saturday, December 21.

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Petty Officer Second Class Sven Gruner is greeted by his girlfriend Rebecca Ankem at the Frigate Niedersachsen, docked after returning to Wilhelmshaven, Germany, on Friday, December 20, from a five-month anti-pirate operation off the Horn of Africa.

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Countdown to Christmas – Petty Officer Second Class Sven Gruner is greeted by his girlfriend Rebecca Ankem at the Frigate Niedersachsen, docked after returning to Wilhelmshaven, Germany, on Friday, December 20, from a five-month anti-pirate operation off the Horn of Africa.

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Tom Tapp dressed as Santa Claus walks along the beach passing out candy canes and posing for pictures with beachgoers on December 20, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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Countdown to Christmas – Tom Tapp dressed as Santa Claus walks along the beach passing out candy canes and posing for pictures with beachgoers on December 20, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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Countdown to Christmas – Tapp has been visiting the beach in Fort Lauderdale as Santa Claus for more than 25 years.

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Andy, Harvey and Dianne Thorn look at the arrivals board at Gatwick airport on December 20 in London. Large numbers of people are using the transport system to return home or head off on holiday.

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Countdown to Christmas – Andy, Harvey and Dianne Thorn look at the arrivals board at Gatwick airport on December 20 in London. Large numbers of people are using the transport system to return home or head off on holiday.

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A man wearing a Santa Claus costume rides a horse and distributes gifts to children in a street of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on December 20.

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Countdown to Christmas – A man wearing a Santa Claus costume rides a horse and distributes gifts to children in a street of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on December 20.

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Axel Richter prepares himself for the role of Santa Claus on Thursday, December 19, in Hanover, Germany. Richter starts growing his beard out in August to be sure it's long enough by Christmas when he visits nine families and brings presents to the children, reads them poems and celebrates Christmas with them.

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Countdown to Christmas – Axel Richter prepares himself for the role of Santa Claus on Thursday, December 19, in Hanover, Germany. Richter starts growing his beard out in August to be sure it's long enough by Christmas when he visits nine families and brings presents to the children, reads them poems and celebrates Christmas with them.

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Countdown to Christmas – Boys cry as they are pictured with Santa Claus at a kindergarten in Damascus, Syria, on December 19.

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A Palestinian shop owner carries a Santa Claus figure on the street preparing for Christmas near Jaffa Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel, on December 19.

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Countdown to Christmas – A Palestinian shop owner carries a Santa Claus figure on the street preparing for Christmas near Jaffa Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel, on December 19.

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Countdown to Christmas – A girl walks by a Coca-Cola Christmas ad in Beijing on December 19.

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Workers wearing Santa Claus and reindeer costumes clean windows outside of a 100-foot-tall shopping mall at promotional event in Tokyo on December 19.

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Countdown to Christmas – Workers wearing Santa Claus and reindeer costumes clean windows outside of a 100-foot-tall shopping mall at promotional event in Tokyo on December 19.

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An activist dressed as Santa Claus sits in a zoo enclosure on December 19, in Prague. The activists protest against the influence of Santa Claus in Czech culture.

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Countdown to Christmas – An activist dressed as Santa Claus sits in a zoo enclosure on December 19, in Prague. The activists protest against the influence of Santa Claus in Czech culture.

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Countdown to Christmas – Women organize thousands of Lego Santa Clauses on Wednesday, December 18, in Surabaya, Indonesia.

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Countdown to Christmas – A man dressed as Santa Claus drives his motorcycle in Bochum, Germany, on December 18.

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Kites in the shape of Santa Claus glide in the wind as part of an exhibition next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Tuesday, December 17.

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Countdown to Christmas – Kites in the shape of Santa Claus glide in the wind as part of an exhibition next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Tuesday, December 17.

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A man wearing a Santa Claus outfit waves from a military helicopter at a Romanian Air Force base in Otopeni, Romania, on December 17. Santa arrived on a helicopter and distributed gifts to children.

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Countdown to Christmas – A man wearing a Santa Claus outfit waves from a military helicopter at a Romanian Air Force base in Otopeni, Romania, on December 17. Santa arrived on a helicopter and distributed gifts to children.

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A performer in a Santa Claus costume dunks the ball during a timeout in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves in Boston on Monday, December 16.

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Countdown to Christmas – A performer in a Santa Claus costume dunks the ball during a timeout in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves in Boston on Monday, December 16.

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Countdown to Christmas – Miley Cyrus poses backstage at Jingle Ball 2013 in Washington on December 16.

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Countdown to Christmas – A staff member dressed as Santa Claus walks out to greet customers at the Santa's Place shop in Melbourne on December 16.

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Countdown to Christmas – An orangutan named Pacquiao wears a Santa costume at the Malabon Zoo in Malabon City, Philippines, on December 15.

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Santas ski from Uley's Ice Bar on Crested Butte Mountain in Crested Butte, Colorado, for the first 'Santa Ski Crawl' on Saturday, December 14.

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Countdown to Christmas – Santas ski from Uley's Ice Bar on Crested Butte Mountain in Crested Butte, Colorado, for the first 'Santa Ski Crawl' on Saturday, December 14.

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Countdown to Christmas – Revelers dressed as Santa Claus run under fake snow during a mini-marathon in Madrid on December 14.

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Countdown to Christmas – Men dressed as Santa Claus use the bathroom at a bar during a SantaCon event in Vancouver, British Colombia, on December 14.

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Countdown to Christmas – About 6,000 people dressed up as Santa Claus and his elves to run in the Madrid mini-marathon.

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Hundreds of people dressed in Santa Claus costumes march through central London during the annual SantaCon celebration on December 14.

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Countdown to Christmas – Hundreds of people dressed in Santa Claus costumes march through central London during the annual SantaCon celebration on December 14.

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