Christmas celebrations have kicked off around the world today as revellers across different timezones toasted the clock striking midnight.

In Pakistan, the community members from across the federal capital enthusiastically attended the late night special prayers aimed to begin the most-celebrated Day across the world with festivity.

Special prayer services were held at Full Gospel Assembly Church, F-6/2, Saint Thomas Church, G-7, and Khatoon-e-Fatima Church in F-8, where Christian religious scholars also prayed for prosperity of Pakistan

At the Vatican Pope Benedict XVI held his annual Christmas night holy mass at St Peter's Basilica to mark the nativity of Jesus Christ.

In Florida, around 150 surfing Santas, elves, snowmen and other Christmas characters took to the water in Cocoa Beach.

The George Trosset's Surfing Santa event Christmas in the Sand event raised money for Grind for Life, which helps people with cancer.

Elsewhere in Mexico, for the 115th year they are celebrating "Noche de Rabanos" - Night of the Radish - with Christmas sculptures carved out of, what else, radishes.

"It is brilliant how the artisans transform this pieces into magic, they make you dream and make your thoughts shine and transport them somewhere else with their images," said a tourist.

In frozen Moscow it is cold ... but not too cold for Grandfather Frost to make an appearance by bus and even call on a bit of holiday magic.

In Germany, families warm up before heading into the forest to cut down their own Christmas trees ... and lug them back home.

Wherever you go there is plenty of shopping to do. American shoppers are packing into stores hoping to find last-minute gifts and deals.

In Lagos, Nigeria, decorations are up ... but many last-minute shoppers worry the celebrations will be dampened by frequent power outages.

In China, Christmas lights hung from trees outside the Xuanwumen Catholic Church as Chinese Catholics arrived for a Christmas Eve mass in Beijing.

Christians in China attend church masses as they prepare to celebrate the religious holiday to commemorate the birth of Christ.

Source: Agencies