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Christmas decorations are seen at a traditional Christmas market in Vienna December 21, 2010. 
A boat, the traditional Greek symbol of Christmas, is illuminated in Aristotelous Square in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010.
A man looks at Christmas decoration in Sin El Fil, northeast of Beirut December 21, 2010.
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 21: Thousands of hoiday tourists visit Rockefeller Center on December 21, 2010 in New York City. With only four shopping days left before the Christmas holiday, many New York businesses are experiencing robust sales as shoppers ease economic concerns to buy clothes, appliances and technology goods.
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 21: Thousands of shoppers converge along 34th St. and Herald Square on December 21, 2010 in New York City. With only four shopping days left before the Christmas holiday, many New York businesses are experiencing robust sales as shoppers ease economic concerns to buy clothes, appliances and technology goods.
Children look at Christmas decoration in Sin El Fil, northeast of Beirut December 21, 2010.
Shoppers walk through a street illuminated with Christmas lights in Valletta December 21, 2010.
A boat, the traditional Greek symbol of Christmas, and a Christmas tree are illuminated in Aristotelous Square in the northern Greek port city of Thessaloniki, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010.
Crowds throng to a shopping mall decorated for Christmas in Hong Kong on December 21, 2010. Christmas shopping is now in full swing with restaurants and retail outlets jam packed all over the territory.
People visit a traditional Christmas market in front of the Empress Maria Theresa monument in Vienna December 21, 2010.
A woman looks at Christmas tree ornaments at a traditional Christmas market in Vienna December 21, 2010.
Crowds throng to a shopping mall decorated for Christmas in Hong Kong on December 21, 2010. Christmas shopping is now in full swing with restaurants and retail outlets jam packed all over the territory.
A picture shows the skyline by night with some buildings showing fetive decoration from the Kowloon peninsula in Hong Kong on December 21, 2010. Christmas shopping is now in full swing with restaurants and retail outlets jam packed all over the territory.
A photographer takes pictures outside a shopping mall decorated for Christmas in Hong Kong on December 21, 2010. Christmas shopping is now in full swing with restaurants and retail outlets jam packed all over the territory.
A woman takes pictures of Christmas decoration in Ashrafieh, east Beirut December 21, 2010.
Hundreds of people queue outside St Pancras Station in London for the Eurostar train to France and Belgium Tuesday Dec. 21, 2010. Major delays and cancellations persisted Tuesday at European airports including London's Heathrow, and on the Eurostar train link, leaving thousands stranded across Europe as Christmas approached.
Passengers queue for Eurostar trains on December 21, 2010 at Paris gare du Nord railway station during ongoing delays caused by the weather. Thousands of angry travellers forced to sleep in airports and train stations across Europe faced more misery Tuesday as fresh snowfalls paralysed transport systems just days before Christmas.
Crossing guard Lisa Green dresses as a ginger bread house on the final day of school before the Christmas holiday break, Tuesday, Dec 21, 2010, in Brunswick, Maine. Green wears a variety of hand-made costumes to celebrate a half-dozen holidays each school year.
Pakistani Kaleem Masih paints Santa Claus and a Christmas message on a wall as he and others decorate their colony ahead of Christmas celebrations, Islamabad, Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2010.
A girl wearing an Angel costume talks to children at the 16th annual Christmas Celebration for the Homeless at the Estrel convention center on December 21, 2010 in Berlin. German singer Frank Zander founded the event, which offers an evening of Christmas goose dinner, performances and Christmas gifts for the German capital's many homeless.
People enjoy a dinner in Berlin, December 21, 2010. For the 16th time German Musician Frank Zander hosts his annual Christmas dinner for homeless and poor people in the German capital.
A view of Paris' snow-covered roofs on December 19, 2010 after heavy snowfalls. Heavy snow disrupted European air travel this weekend and stranded hundreds of drivers in their cars as far south as Italy as a white Christmas appeared increasingly likely for many places.
People climb snow-covered stairs to the Sacre Coeur basilica on December 19, 2010 in Paris after heavy snowfalls. Heavy snow disrupted European air travel this weekend and stranded hundreds of drivers in their cars as far south as Italy as a white Christmas appeared increasingly likely for many places.
People climb snow-covered stairs to the Sacre Coeur basilica on December 19, 2010 in Paris after heavy snowfalls. Heavy snow disrupted European air travel this weekend and stranded hundreds of drivers in their cars as far south as Italy as a white Christmas appeared increasingly likely for many places.
People enjoy ice skating on the snowcovered Trocadero gardens near the Eiffel Tower, on December, 19, 2010 in Paris. Heavy snow disrupted European air travel this weekend and stranded hundreds of drivers in their cars as far south as Italy as a white Christmas appeared increasingly likely for many places.
People enjoy ice skating on the snowcovered Trocadero gardens near the Eiffel Tower, on December, 19, 2010 in Paris. Heavy snow disrupted European air travel this weekend and stranded hundreds of drivers in their cars as far south as Italy as a white Christmas appeared increasingly likely for many places.
Christmastime in New York City 2010
Hong Kong Harbour City 2010 Christmas
Hong Kong Harbour City 2010 Christmas
Christmas in Vienna 2010
Snow Eiffel Tower
Snow Eiffel Tower
PARIS SOUS LA NEIGE #23 (Snow Eiffel Tower)
PARIS SOUS LA NEIGE #3 (Snow Eiffel Tower)
source: Daylife
photo: AP photo, Gettyimages, Reuters [endtext]
