Today’s Christmas photos

California Academy of Sciences diver George Bell waves to visitors from inside the academy’s Philippine Coral Reef tank in San Francisco. Scuba Santa is part of a daily holiday program through Christmas Eve. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

Associated Press

Dec. 19, 2013 4:07 PM PT

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)