Today’s Christmas photos

Children dressed in Santa finery listen to a priest explain the history of the Christmas holiday at a Catholic church in Hanoi.  (Hoang Dinh Nam / AFP/Getty Images)

Pancho Claus, portrayed by Richard Reyes, throws presents from a convertible low-rider on Dec. 14 in Houston. The Tex-Mex Santa grew from the Chicano civil rights movement and is sometimes referred to as Santa Claus’ cousin from the South Pole.  (Pat Sullivan / Associated Press)

A De Brazza’s monkey examines a treat it got for Christmas in the Darwineum zoo in Rostock, Germany.  (Bernd Wustneck / AFP/Getty Images)

Hundreds of people gather at Casa del Mexicano in Boyle Heights for a 2013 Christmas posada.  (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

First Lady Michelle Obama and Marine Staff Sgt. Catalina Perez arrive with gifts at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington as part of the Marine Corps’ annual Toys for Tots campaign.   (Alex Wong / Getty Images)

Syrian boys cry as they are photographed with Santa Claus at a kindergarten in Damascus.  (Louai Beshara / AFP/Getty Images)

Visitors pose in front of Christmas decorations at a shopping mall in Hong Kong.  (Kin Cheung / Associated Press)

An activist dressed as Santa Claus poses in a zoo enclosure in Prague, Czech Republic. He is part of a group protesting the influence of Santa Claus in Czech culture.  (Michal Cizek / AFP/Getty Images)