PHOTOS: 2019 Christmas celebrations around the world

By WTOP Staff
December 25, 2019 | 1:17 PM

A woman in a Santa outfit surfs at Bondi Beach on Dec. 25, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. December is one of the hottest months of the year across Australia, with Christmas Day traditionally involving a trip to the beach and celebrations outdoors.

A group of people dance at the Wayside Chapel Christmas Lunch on Dec. 25, 2019 in Sydney, Australia.

The Raptor dressed as a Christmas Tree during the first half of an NBA game between the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on Dec. 25, 2019 in Toronto, Canada.

A girl stands near candles during Christmas Eve mass at Ganjuran Catholic church on Dec. 24, 2019 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Indonesian Christian girls hold candles during Christmas Eve mass at Ganjuran Catholic church on Dec. 24, 2019 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Indonesian Christians receive communion during Christmas Eve mass at Ganjuran Catholic church on Dec. 24, 2019 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Children march dressed as angels during the annual Las Posadas Christmas Eve procession on historic Olvera Street on Dec. 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.

A nurse adjusts the outfits of newborn babies dressed in Santa costumes on Christmas Eve at the Synphaet hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019. — A nurse adjusts the outfits of newborn babies dressed in Santa costumes on Christmas eve at the Synphaet hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019.

A child reacts near wings-shaped neon lights during Christmas Eve in Beijing on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019.

Volunteers of New York Cares sort through a table of coats that have been donated for people in need at the Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) offices on Dec. 24, 2019 in New York City.

A Christmas tree decorated for Christmas and New Year celebrations placed in front of Stalin's style Ukraine skyscraper, now Radisson Hotel in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019.

Young Afghan shopkeepers, left, prepare breakfast near to a Christmas tree are waiting for customers at the Shar-e-Naw City in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019.

A couple poses for a selfie wearing Santa hats as crowds flocked to the inner city beach of St Kilda for Christmas Day celebrations in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019.

Members of the King Edward's Bay swimmers enjoy a Christmas Day dip at sunrise, at King Edward's Bay, Newcastle, England, Wednesday Dec. 25, 2019.

Swimmers take part in the Christmas Day swim in Porthcawl, Wales, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019.

People take part in the annual Christmas Day swim at the Forty Foot bathing spot in Sandycove Dublin, Ireland, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019.

Indian women takes selfies after attending a Christmas mass at a church in Gauhati, India, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019. Though the Hindus and Muslims comprise majority of the population in India, Christmas is a national holiday celebrated with much fanfare.

A Christian family greet each other after attending Christmas Mass at a church in Multan, Pakistan, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019.

Indian Christians offer prayers at Saint Mary's Garrison church on Christmas in Jammu, India, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019. Though the Hindus and Muslims comprise majority of the population in India, Christmas is a national holiday celebrated with much fanfare.

Women greet each other after attending a Christmas Mass at a church in Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019.

A girl stands next to a nativity scene during Christmas mass at at the Maronite Cathedral of Saint George on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019 in Beirut, Lebanon.

Pope Francis delivers the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for 'to the city and to the world' ) Christmas' day blessing from the main balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019.

Swiss Guards march in front of Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, before Pope Francis arrival to deliver the Urbi et Orbi (Latin for 'to the city and to the world' ) Christmas' day blessing, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019.

Performers dressed in Christmas costumes cheer on visitors during the Disney Christmas Stories parade held at Tokyo Disneyland in Urayasu, near Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019.

A large crowd watch a light show projected onto the Cathedral-Basilica during the Christmas celebration at Cathedral square in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019. Over 80 percent of Lithuanians are Christians who celebrate the festival of Christmas on Dec. 25.

People take pictures in front of Christmas trees at the shopping mall on Dec. 23, 2019 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

In this undated photo, Queen Elizabeth II records her annual Christmas broadcast in Windsor Castle, Berkshire, England.

A view of the Luminarie light sculptures, handmade from scratch by craftsmen with white wood from the south of Italy, part of Christmas festivities at Gardens By The Bay on Dec. 22, 2019 in Singapore.

Visitors dressed in winter clothing pose for photos with light sculptures in an artificial snow house, part of Christmas festivities at Orchard Road shopping district on Dec. 23, 2019 in Singapore.

Participants wearing Santa Claus costumes take part in the Tokyo Great Santa Run 2019 on Dec. 22, 2019 in Tokyo, Japan.

Tennessee Titans cheerleaders in Santa Claus outfits during the second half against the New Orleans Saints in the game at Nissan Stadium on Dec. 22, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Members of the Knights Guard, including one wearing a Santa Claus outfit, clean the ice during the Vegas Golden Knights' game against the Colorado Avalanche at T-Mobile Arena on Dec. 23, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Here’s a glimpse of how people around the world celebrated Christmas this year.

Once shaped by court rituals, China’s imperial cuisine lives on today

By The Associated Press
August 19, 2026 | 1:59 AM

BEIJING (AP) — It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi once dreamed of a pastry during the final decades of imperial China. The same treat was served to her at breakfast the following morning. Delighted, she summoned her chef and rewarded him with a silver ingot. “It was originally called ‘minced pork pancake,’ but because it had fulfilled her dream, it later became known as ‘dream pastry,’” said Zhou Tong, a chef at Fangshan Restaurant in Beijing. Fangshan specializes in imperial cuisine, preserving dishes like the one associated with Cixi and other culinary traditions from China’s imperial court. The restaurant was founded in 1925 by former chefs from the Qing Dynasty at Beihai Park, a garden where royals from several dynasties rested, handled government affairs and performed ritual sacrifices.

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