Europe's Christmas kaleidoscope
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The BBC News website look at the variety of European traditions at Christmas and New Year.
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Christians around the world have begun celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, with observances marking Christmas Eve. In Bethlehem, the town of Jesus&#39;s birth, Israel has relaxed travel restrictions
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Heart-shaped traffic lights for  Valentine's Day, a wealth of chocolate treats and an influx of  bright young things from all across Europe arguably make  Brussels the continent's love as well as political capital.
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WHETHER it's bright flashing lights or a garden grotto Ipswich householders have gone to town this year with a cornucopia of Christmas displays.
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In the birthplace of Jesus, Muslims and Christians used to celebrate the season in peace. A TIME correspondent recalls holidays past in a troubled land
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Pope John Paul II ushered in Christmas on Friday by celebrating midnight Mass at St. Peter's Basilica, praying that world leaders will strive for peace and that Jews, Muslims and Christians will live harmoniously in the Holy Land.
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Religious harmony is on full display in a year when Christmas and the Muslim holiday of Tabaski fall within days of each other.
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Comment is free: Richard Coles: Whether poor in Lincolnshire or rich in London, the true message of Christmas still rings out
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One in four revelers regifts during the holiday season. No finger-pointing, please.
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Worshippers brought hopes for greater peace in the coming year as they flocked to Manger Square in Bethlehem and to St. Peter's in the Vatican to hear Christmas messages urging an end to violence, particularly in the Middle East. But from Indonesia to Iraq, fear overshadowed the festivities.
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Bulgaria in Brief: 30 December 2004, Thursday. On the eve of upcoming New 2005 Year, Sofia has been glittering in numerous lights, bulbs, decorations, candles and flags.
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Queen Elizabeth has called for tolerance between different cultural and religious groups in her Christmas address to the nation. &quot;Religion and culture are much in the news these days, usually
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Symbols of Christmas line the echoing hallways and vast rooms of Sacred Heart Monastery in Cullman - dozens of Nativity scenes, wreaths and several Christmas trees.
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Everywhere the Pistons and the Pacers looked on Christmas, they were reminded of their shared indiscretion.
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Four present and former members of State College's Little German Band celebrated the holiday season this year in a unique way, playing impromptu concerts of Christmas music in Europe for two weeks.
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With the lighting of a candle for peace in his window, Pope John Paul began Christmas holiday celebrations that posed a new test for his frail health not long after visitors celebrated in Bethlehem.
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Christmas markets are thought to have originated in Germany. They developed from the traditional winter markets at which people could meet to buy and sell local produce and home-made decorations crafted out of ...