In dozens, maybe hundreds, of countries around the world, Christmas Day is being celebrated. It's the same event - but how we do it varies enormously. Let's visit a few...........

Paris, France

They're calling this "The Christmas of the Century"??? at Galeries Lafayette. ?The dome, the centerpiece of the Boulevard Haussmann store and a stunning example of Art Nouveau architecture, is now 100 years old and still as beautiful as ever!

To mark the occasion, Galeries Lafayette has asked more than 100 brands to pay tribute to its wonderful dome with new and exclusive gift ideas - collectors, look out! The department store's 1930s monogram is back - on a capsule collection of fashion accessories - in a fantastic mix of old and new. For Christmas of the Century, three household names are setting the scene in store, with 'The Ball of the Century' window displays by Louis Vuitton, a huge sparkling Christmas tree by Swarovski, a magical roof terrace and window displays by Disney Princess and a pop-up Disney store 'Christmas of the Century' has something for all ages at Galeries Lafayette.

In Paris, illuminations highlight its historical monuments, from the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-élysées and the Rue de Rivoli. Start from the Arc de Triomphe and enjoy, when night falls, the unique illuminations on the trees, made of coloured LED rings, whose light is reflected in mirrored medallions. Walk down the most beautiful avenue in the world!

A few metres down, still on the Champs-Elysées, is the Place de la Concorde, where one of the most exciting rides of the season is located: the Big Wheel! Perched at over 65m high, it offers a unique view of the Tuileries and the Louvre! Besides the Big Wheel stands the largest Christmas tree in Europe: 35 meters high! From December 6 to January 3.

Rome, Italy

Living or traditional, Neapolitan or standard, with orange branches or terracotta figurines, cribs are everywhere in Italy during Christmas time! Here is a little guide to the best nativities in Rome and surroundings (courtesy of Buzz In Rome's  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ). See the full list there.

We stress the word 'surroundings' because the nativity scene was for the first time invented and recreated in a village not far from Rome, Greccio, where St. Francis in 1223 set up the manger where Jesus was born with real people, the so called living nativity. The living crib is still a tradition in Greccio (on show on Dec. 24, 26, Jan. 1, 6, 7, 8), but this village now also boasts of a newly-inaugurated museum totally devoted to nativities from all over the world which is really worth visiting.

Rome's oldest crib is displayed in Santa Maria Maggiore, one of Rome's four major Basilicas, and it was realized by the 13th-century sculptor Arnolfo di Cambio. If you wan to see a Neapolitan-style one (which consists of 3 parts: the grotto central scene, the wise men procession and the tavern) in downtown Rome, you should go Santi Cosma e Damiano, with its 18th- pastors or to S. Gregorio VII, pretty close to the Vatican.

This year's nativity scene has been donated to St Peter's Basilica by the province of Basilicata in southern Italy with a reference to the stones of Matera, where some people lived in cliffside caves until fifty years ago.

On a more secular note, if you want to find out what is open in Rome over the Christmas period, check it out here...

Brooklyn, New York, USA

The seventh annual Christmas Lights & Cannoli Tour highlights the festive homes of Dyker Heights, the Italian-American section of Brooklyn made famous in the PBS documentary Dyker Lights.

Each year, over 100,000 people flock to the area for over-the-top Christmas decorations including animatronic figures, dazzling lights and glowing nativity scenes...and this year it's even bigger and brighter than ever!

The multimedia presentation on our bus tour includes vintage Christmas music and TV variety specials like Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and more!

Also included in the tour is a stop at Bella Luna for hot chocolate and cannoli from one of Brooklyn BEST Italian pastry shops, Villabate - Alba, which has been serving the best Italian pastries in Brooklyn for over three generations!

Read what The Huffington Post had to say. A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours leave from Manhattan and run every night in December until December 31st with multiple tours each night.

   Manila, Philippines

After the successfully-staged Christmas Tree Contests in the past two consecutive years dubbed as 'Unity in Diversity' with Dusit Thani Manila has unveiled this year's ten Christmas Trees with the theme that focuses on children, the world's hope for the future.

Dusit Thani Manila has invited esteemed educational institutions represented by its Grade School Students to join in this Christmas endeavor and unite in the spirit of the season through their creative, young hearts and minds and the use of recycled materials. 

The ten finalists will be voted on clicking LIKE on the Fan Page of Dusit Thani Manila then click LIKE on the photo of choice, with voting closing on Dec 25

PUNO NG PANGARAP (Tree of Dreams / Full of Dreams) by Divine Healer Academy. Features Recycled Material: Bamboo. Puno ng Pangarap is a tree in flaming red, the color of the aspiration of the school children to fulfill their dreams. The three bamboo poles that form the frame of the tree represent the school pillars - the administrators, teachers and yes, the benefactors who untiringly support the school. Inside and outside the frame are stars made of bamboo branches; these stars symbolize each and every pupil of the school. Hanged around these poles are Christmas balls that carry the wishes of the school children - 'to have a simple umbrella,' 'to have something for Noche Buena,' 'to see Manila,' 'for their benefactors to have a good health,' 'for their parents to continue to love them,' 'for Santa to take care of Papa Jesus.' On top of the tree is a bigger star, representing the bigger dreams of the students that they wish to attain. Once fulfilled, their dreams will give light to others.

Like the proverbial bamboo, the school is pliant to the tests of times. And so is the spirit of the students and teachers. They are filled with hope. They are showered with love. They are rich in dreams. With Puno ng Pangarap, the students, teachers and administrators of the Divine Healer Academy aim to bring to the consciousness of the people that they need every possible help they can get to sustain the operation of the school. Included in the academy's vision board is to increase the number of its students to 500 by next school year. It is in this respect that Divine Healer Academy chooses itself to become its own beneficiary.

PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS TREE by Miriam Grade School Manila, featurin Recycled Material: Corn Husks. Instead of an ordinary Christmas tree, peace masks were used featuring the expressive facial features of the community, with trimmings using Japanese corn husks gathered from the vendor outside the campus. Despite being diverse, from the way people talk, to the cultures and attitudes, mankind can still have that chance to be united.  The inspiration and design is from a female peace advocate named Myong Hee Kim whose work has helped individuals understand the role of art in the society. What better gift to give Jesus this season than showing love and unity to one another. Beneficiary: Miriam College Adult Education (MAE)

Established by the Maryknoll Sisters in 1967, MAE continues to empower the disadvantaged youth and adult learners through basic education and vocational classes like Dressmaking, Tailoring, Beauty Culture, and Auto Mechanics. It caters not only the residents of the nearby areas, but has also attracted students from as far as Eastern Rizal and Southern Manila.

3T: TREE, TECHNOLOGY AND TRUTH by MGC New Life Christian Academy, features Recycled Materials: Compact Discs and Electronic Wastes. With the 21st century lifestyle, the fast is sidelined by the faster.  Even the very young have their fair share of technology consumption. In the process, tons of e-waste is amassed and their disposal is already considered a societal problem.

Glitz and gadgets may come and go, but the true message of Christmas will never be outdated. The newborn Babe whose life on earth ended on Calvary's Cross for sinners' salvation still rings true through centuries passed.  As a school, MGC New Life tries to ride the tide of technology, but the dictates of modernity will never change the very reason of the school's being. Everything starts and ends with the Cross - the TRUTH.  In everything that they do, be it in class, co-curricular, or extra-curricular activity, the Cross and its truth is constantly in full view.

Beneficiary: Center for Community Transformation, Inc. - Visions of Hope

This is carried out through the fusion of social development initiatives and evangelical mission in a uniquely Filipino context. It serves urban and rural poor communities throughout the Philippines, in pursuit of its desire to see changed lives, strong families and transformed communities centered on the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

BUT WAIT...there's more.

Come back soon and see a round-up of Christmas goodies, and also ways we can all spread the cheer!