<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fpeople%2FALin77">Angeline Hwang</a> took this picture of model cottages at a Christmas market in the German town of Hanau, the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm. German Christmas markets can have many themes, she said, and pop-up throughout the country during the festive months.
Christmas cottages —
Angeline Hwang took this picture of model cottages at a Christmas market in the German town of Hanau, the birthplace of the Brothers Grimm. German Christmas markets can have many themes, she said, and pop-up throughout the country during the festive months.
Courtesy Angeline Hwang
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fpeople%2FAnklebiter86">Jen Best</a> from Liberty, Missouri, snapped this adorable picture of her six-month-old nephew, Grayson, playing with fairy lights after seeing the idea on content sharing platform Pinterest. "(Grayson) absolutely loved the lights," she said. "When we finished, my brother picked him up, and he held a light tightly in each hand and wouldn't let go."
Baby lights —
Jen Best from Liberty, Missouri, snapped this adorable picture of her six-month-old nephew, Grayson, playing with fairy lights after seeing the idea on content sharing platform Pinterest. "(Grayson) absolutely loved the lights," she said. "When we finished, my brother picked him up, and he held a light tightly in each hand and wouldn't let go."
Courtesy Jen Best/ireport
Each year the beautiful neoclassical Placio Nacional building in Santo Domingo is given a Christmas makeover. This photo of the presidential palace was taken by <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fpeople%2Fmisael" target="_blank">Misael Rincon</a>, a 31-year-old TV producer from the Dominican Republic.
Christmas makeover —
Each year the beautiful neoclassical Placio Nacional building in Santo Domingo is given a Christmas makeover. This photo of the presidential palace was taken by Misael Rincon, a 31-year-old TV producer from the Dominican Republic.
courtesy Misael Rincon
This photo of a couple of priests walking through the Christian Quarter in Jerusalem was taken by James Cheatham, who has lived and worked on and off in the city since 2002.<br /> <br />"When I was walking through the Christian Quarter, several of the shops had Christmas music playing such as Bing Crosby (White Christmas), Nat King Cole (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire), and O Holy Night, amongst others which really added to the atmosphere," said the native Californian.
A holy Christmas —
This photo of a couple of priests walking through the Christian Quarter in Jerusalem was taken by James Cheatham, who has lived and worked on and off in the city since 2002.

"When I was walking through the Christian Quarter, several of the shops had Christmas music playing such as Bing Crosby (White Christmas), Nat King Cole (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire), and O Holy Night, amongst others which really added to the atmosphere," said the native Californian.
Courtesy James Cheatham
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fpeople%2FLaCrymaMosa">Thai Dang</a> took this sparkling image of the Christmas light display that brightens up the facade of the Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul, Korea, every festive season. <br /><br />"I took a bunch of photos but this was my favorite," she said. "I liked how the trees stand out from the purple screen board behind ... It is dreamy and fantasy-like."
Seoulful celebrations —
Thai Dang took this sparkling image of the Christmas light display that brightens up the facade of the Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul, Korea, every festive season.

"I took a bunch of photos but this was my favorite," she said. "I liked how the trees stand out from the purple screen board behind ... It is dreamy and fantasy-like."
Courtesy Thai Dang/iReport
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fpeople%2Fpogomcl">Mary Legg</a> shot this image of the elaborate Christmas decorations in the Old Town area of her adopted home city, Prague. "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," she said.
Czech Christmas —
Mary Legg shot this image of the elaborate Christmas decorations in the Old Town area of her adopted home city, Prague. "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," she said.
Mary C Legg/ireport
"This was the most unusual tree I had ever seen," said iReporter, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fpeople%2FMarieSager">Marie Sager</a>, who shot this impressive image of creative festive decorations in Provincetown, Massachusetts. "It was built with lobster cages, decorated with plastic ... seashells and topped with nautical items. Perfect for a town by the sea."
Lobster-cage tree —
"This was the most unusual tree I had ever seen," said iReporter, Marie Sager, who shot this impressive image of creative festive decorations in Provincetown, Massachusetts. "It was built with lobster cages, decorated with plastic ... seashells and topped with nautical items. Perfect for a town by the sea."
Courtesy Marie Sager/iReport
Dutch iReporter <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fpeople%2FIrenere">Irene Reijs</a>, captured this image of a man delivering Christmas decorations by bike in her adopted home of Shanghai, China. "Christmas is not a Chinese tradition, but much of our decorations are made in China," she said.
Christmas in Shanghai —
Dutch iReporter Irene Reijs, captured this image of a man delivering Christmas decorations by bike in her adopted home of Shanghai, China. "Christmas is not a Chinese tradition, but much of our decorations are made in China," she said.
Courtesy Irene Reijs/iReport
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fpeople%2FKeemalexis">Kim Tinambacan</a> captured this cool image of a Christmas tree entirely made from recycled materials -- such as plastic, Styrofoam and foils -- in Santa Rosa, the Philippines. "I decided to take this kind of photo because it really symbolizes the true meaning of Christmas ingenuity here in the Philippines," she said.
Filipino ingenuity —
Kim Tinambacan captured this cool image of a Christmas tree entirely made from recycled materials -- such as plastic, Styrofoam and foils -- in Santa Rosa, the Philippines. "I decided to take this kind of photo because it really symbolizes the true meaning of Christmas ingenuity here in the Philippines," she said.
Courtesy Kim Tinambacan
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fpeople%2FRomaniaScene">Natalie Montanaro</a> captured this moment of a happy family attending a carol performance in the Pacific island of Tonga. "Although we are showered with tropical sunshine, shaded by coconut palms and quenched by the cool blue of the South Pacific, it's already 'beginning to look (and feel!) a lot like Christmas," she said.
A carol in Tonga —
Natalie Montanaro captured this moment of a happy family attending a carol performance in the Pacific island of Tonga. "Although we are showered with tropical sunshine, shaded by coconut palms and quenched by the cool blue of the South Pacific, it's already 'beginning to look (and feel!) a lot like Christmas," she said.
Courtesy Natalie Montanaro
In the Floridian coastal town of Sebastian, "people decorate cars and boats to show their spirit of Christmas" before parading them through town, said <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fpeople%2Fpostman555">Billy Ocker</a>. "Old cars, boats, bikes, tow-trucks, fire trucks and floats," are a common sight. "Anything that has wheels would be allowed," he added.
Truck parade —
In the Floridian coastal town of Sebastian, "people decorate cars and boats to show their spirit of Christmas" before parading them through town, said Billy Ocker. "Old cars, boats, bikes, tow-trucks, fire trucks and floats," are a common sight. "Anything that has wheels would be allowed," he added.
Courtesy Billy Ocker/ireport
iReporter <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-887174">Christian Bordo</a> captured this image of a parol -- a star shaped lantern made out of bamboo and paper, traditional to Filipino Christmas celebrations.
Festive parol —
iReporter Christian Bordo captured this image of a parol -- a star shaped lantern made out of bamboo and paper, traditional to Filipino Christmas celebrations.
Courtesy Christian Bordo/iReport
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fpeople%2Fgregreesehd">Greg Reese</a> photographed these costumed attendees of Santacon 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio. "It's an annual event where they dress up like Santa and other holiday icons and walk around the city giving candy and [going on] pub crawls," he said.
Santa convention —
Greg Reese photographed these costumed attendees of Santacon 2012 in Cincinnati, Ohio. "It's an annual event where they dress up like Santa and other holiday icons and walk around the city giving candy and [going on] pub crawls," he said.
Courtesy Greg Reese/iReport
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fpeople%2Flalith1">Gregory Lalith</a> took this image of festive revellers at the annual Christmas carnival in his hometown of Hyderabad, India.<br /><br />Trucks, cars and all manner vehicles are transformed into festively themed parade floats for the event, before setting off along the city's main thoroughfares and neighborhoods, he said.
A festive Indian parade —
Gregory Lalith took this image of festive revellers at the annual Christmas carnival in his hometown of Hyderabad, India.

Trucks, cars and all manner vehicles are transformed into festively themed parade floats for the event, before setting off along the city's main thoroughfares and neighborhoods, he said.
Courtesy Gregory Lalith/iReport
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fpeople%2FStatham">Sarah Tatham</a> is a Canadian living in Barranquilla, Colombia. This picture of a cardboard snowman reflects her longing for home during Christmas. "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," she said.
A Colombian snowman —
Sarah Tatham is a Canadian living in Barranquilla, Colombia. This picture of a cardboard snowman reflects her longing for home during Christmas. "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," she said.
Courtesy Sara Tatham/iReport
<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fpeople%2Fdonnaclare">Donna Clare</a> captured this fun shot of a giant inflatable Elmo -- of the popular children's TV show, Sesame Street -- floating high above the Hollywood Christmas Parade. "The event, as expected was a Hollywood affair, complete with lots of red carpet and lots of celebrities," she said. "[It] felt like a movie premiere more so than a parade."
A Hollywood tale —
Donna Clare captured this fun shot of a giant inflatable Elmo -- of the popular children's TV show, Sesame Street -- floating high above the Hollywood Christmas Parade. "The event, as expected was a Hollywood affair, complete with lots of red carpet and lots of celebrities," she said. "[It] felt like a movie premiere more so than a parade."
Courtesy Donna Clare/iReport
This Christmas, <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fpeople%2FWanderRock">Peter Harrits</a> traded his native winter white Wisconsin for the hot and humid Borneo, Malaysia, where he is currently on assignment. He took this photo of the annual Christmas carnival in Kota Kinabalu. "To me, the carnival is a perfect example of the diversity that makes Malaysia such a fascinating place to explore," he said. <br /><br />"It is kind of surreal to be standing there sweating in the tropical heat of Borneo surrounded by Christmas lights and carols and statues of wise men and camels as a blizzard of faux-snow swirls past the palm trees around you," he added.
Away from home —
This Christmas, Peter Harrits traded his native winter white Wisconsin for the hot and humid Borneo, Malaysia, where he is currently on assignment. He took this photo of the annual Christmas carnival in Kota Kinabalu. "To me, the carnival is a perfect example of the diversity that makes Malaysia such a fascinating place to explore," he said.

"It is kind of surreal to be standing there sweating in the tropical heat of Borneo surrounded by Christmas lights and carols and statues of wise men and camels as a blizzard of faux-snow swirls past the palm trees around you," he added.
Courtesy Peter Harrits
Prolific iReporter <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-896866">Tracy Bymoen</a> photographed a German Christmas market in Heidelberg, Germany. She says the market's fairytale castle look adds to the holiday spirit, and the area has every Christmas item you could possibly need for the holiday season. "I visited the castle over the last few days and, despite the 300 plus stairs one must walk to get up to the castle market, it was always bustling," she said.
Christmas castle —
Prolific iReporter Tracy Bymoen photographed a German Christmas market in Heidelberg, Germany. She says the market's fairytale castle look adds to the holiday spirit, and the area has every Christmas item you could possibly need for the holiday season. "I visited the castle over the last few days and, despite the 300 plus stairs one must walk to get up to the castle market, it was always bustling," she said.
Courtesy beetraveler