Germany Tradition Christmas

Photos of the Week

Two young men dressed in bizarre straw outfits and devilish masks await the start of the traditional "Buttnmandl" run, when they shout and make noise with cowbells to frighten people in the village of Bischofswiesen, Germany, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. The pre Christmas tradition dates back to pagan times as a protection against evil spirits in the darkest time of the year. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

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Brazil Holiday T... Fireworks explode over the floating Christmas tree in Lagoa lake at the annual holiday tree lighting event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012. The Christmas tree is believed to be one of the largest in the world decorated with millions of Christmas lights. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Russia Weather People walk past a Christmas tree in Red Square, with the GUM State Department Store at right, in Moscow, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. A heavy snow fall hit Moscow early morning but it melts in the above-zero temperature. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Missouri Holiday... Holiday lights adorn buildings in the Country Club Plaza shopping center as the setting sun lights up the sky Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Earth At Night This NASA image from a composite assembled from data acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October 2012 shows the United States at night The image was made possible by the new satellite’s “day-night band” of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), which detects light in a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared and uses filtering techniques to observe dim signals such as city lights, gas flares, auroras, wildfires, and reflected moonlight. (AP Photo/NASA)
Russia Red Squar... In this photo taken on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, people skate on the ice rink opened on Red Square, with St. Basil Cathedral in the background, in Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr)
India Kumbh Fest... A Naga sadhu, reflected on a mirror, ties his turban after taking a holy dip in the River Ganges during preparations for the upcoming over-a-month-long Mahakumbh fair in Allahabad, India, Monday, Dec. 3, 2012. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are expected to take part in the largest religious congregation on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati, during the festival in January 2013, which falls every twelfth year. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Philippines Typh... This photo provided by NASA and made from the International Space Station on Dec. 2, 2012, shows Typhoon Bopha moving toward the Philippines. Typhoon Bopha slammed into the Davao region of the Philippines early Tuesday, Dec. 4, killing at least seven people and forcing more than 50,000 to flee from inundated villages. (AP Photo/NASA)
Austria Weather A woman makes her way through the fresh snow on Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 in Lofer in the Austrian province of Salzburg. Weather forecasts predict snowfall for the next days in the alpine country. (AP Photo/Kerstin Joensson)
Baby White Faced... Oliver, the three-month-old white faced capuchin monkey and Miami's Jungle Island newest baby, is shown to the public Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter)
Denmark World AI... Danes light candles to mark the 'World AIDS Day' and in memory of those who have died of AIDS Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012 at Nytorv Square in the Center of Copenhagen, Denmark. (AP Photo / Polfoto / Lars Krabbe) DENMARK OUT
Poland Christmas... A general view of the Christmas fair at the Palace of Culture in Warsaw, Poland, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Belgium Christma... An abstract light installation replaces the traditional Christmas tree at the Grand Place in Brussels, Saturday Dec. 1, 2012. Traditionally, a 20m (65ft) pine tree from the forests of the Ardennes decorates the city's central square, the Grand Place. This year, it has been replaced with a 25m (82ft) construction. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)
Egypt Demonstrat... A general view of Tahrir Square during a demonstration in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, Nov. 30, 2012. Liberal and secular parties held major protests against Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi's latest decrees granting himself almost complete powers. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)
The 28th Anniver... Survivors of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy hold candles in memory of the victims on the eve of its 28th anniversary in Bhopal, India, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012. According to the government, at least 500,000 people were affected by the gas leak on Dec. 3, 1984, and activists say that thousands of children, born to parents directly exposed to the gas leak or poisoned by the contaminated water, are suffering from cleft lips, missing palates, twisted limbs. (AP Photo/Rajeev Gupta)
Congo Fighting A Congolese FARDC government soldier looks out of the window of the clubhouse of the base, after they arrived in Goma, eastern Congo Monday Dec. 3, 2012. Several hundred Congo army soldiers returned to the key eastern city of Goma, as rebels remained poised nearby and a possible fight loomed for the city of 1 million. About 700 government army troops reentered Goma Monday in trucks which arrived at Katindo barracks. Crowds gathered to cheer and sing and some women rushed forward to kiss the troops.(AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
Navy Ceremony U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Quill, center, kisses his 2-year-old son, Zack, while waiting to receive the Silver Star medal with two other recipients, U.S. Marine Sgt. Frankie Shinost, left, and U.S. Marine Maj. James Rose, right, during a ceremony held at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Monday, Dec. 3, 2012. The three received the medals for their heroism while serving in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
France New Museu... A general view of the Louvre Museum in Lens, northern France, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. The museum in Lens, is to open on Dec. 12, is part of a strategy to spread art beyond the traditional bastions of culture in Paris to new audiences in the provinces. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
France Christmas... An illuminated pyramid is the design for Christmas lights in Nice, southeastern France,Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012.(AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)
World Cup of Sur... In this photo provided by Association of Surfing Professionals, Adrian Buchan, of Australia, competes on his way to advancing during the Vans World Cup of Surfing, Monday, Dec. 3, 2012, at Sunset Beach near Haleiwa, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Association of Surfing Professionals, Kirstin Scholtz)
Ohio Weather A man jogs through a park along the Ohio River, Monday, Dec. 3, 2012, in Cincinnati, where temperatures were expected to approach 70 degrees. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)
Malaysia Trick A... Visitors pose for a photo with a 3D artwork at Trick Art Museum in Shah Alam, outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin)
Newborn Elephant This Friday Nov. 30, 2012 photo provided by the Oregon Zoo shows a newborn female Asian elephant calf in the elephant maternity ward with her mother Rose-Tu at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Ore. The Oregon Zoo says Rose-Tu gave birth to the 300-pound female calf at 2:17 a.m. Friday, and the youngster is healthy, vigorous and loud. (AP Photo/Oregon Zoo, Michael Durham)
NJ Building Fire... A multi-family building, with a supermarket on the ground floor, burned late this afternoon and into the evening as firefighters from North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue and the Jersey City Fire Department fought the flames, Monday, Dec. 3, 2012 in Union City, N.J. Smoke from the fire, located at the corner of Fifth Street and Bergenline Avenue, could be seen for miles. (AP Photo/Joe Epstein)
India Ayodhya A Hindu holy man offers prayers by the Saryu River on the eve of the anniversary of the Babri mosque demolition in Ayodhya, India, Wednesday, Dec.5, 2012. In 1992, tens of thousands of Hindu extremists ripped apart the 16th century Babri mosque at Ayodhya in northern India as security forces watched. Hindus say it is the birthplace of their god Rama and contend a temple to him stood on the site before the mosque. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Egypt Protesters Fireworks burst over Tahrir Square as protesters gather in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. A protest by tens of thousands of Egyptians outside the presidential palace in Cairo turned violent on Tuesday as tensions grew over Islamist President Mohammed Morsi's seizure of nearly unrestricted powers Thousands of protesters also gathered in Cairo's downtown Tahrir Square, miles away from the palace, to join several hundred who have been camping out there for nearly two weeks. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
Australia Wildfi... A helicopter drops water onto a smoldering fire in the Lane Cove National Park in Sydney, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. Several firefighting aircraft contained the fire and no homes were lost. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Capitol Christma... The U.S. Capitol Christmas tree is seen after being lit by House Speaker John Boehner and Ryan Shuster, 17, of Colorado Spring, Colo., not pictured, on the Capitol grounds in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. The 2012 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree is an Engelmann spruce from Colorado’s White River National Forest. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Mars Rover This image provided by NASA shows a shadow self-portrait taken by NASA’s Opportunity rover on the Martian surface. The solar-powered spacecraft has been exploring a huge crater in the Martian southern hemisphere and has detected what appear to be clay minerals. (AP Photo NASA)
Germany Traditio... Two young men dressed in bizarre straw outfits and devilish masks await the start of the traditional "Buttnmandl" run, when they shout and make noise with cowbells to frighten people in the village of Bischofswiesen, Germany, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. The pre Christmas tradition dates back to pagan times as a protection against evil spirits in the darkest time of the year. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Brazil Protest A man sprinkles beans on a cloth during a protest against the number of homicides in his country, on the sandy beach of Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. The Brazilian non-governmental organization Rio de Paz spread half a million black and white beans over five red carpets on the beach to protest against the number of murders in Brazil over the past few years. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
Romania Daily Li... A woman handles laundry from a window in a poor area of Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012. Romania will hold parliamentary elections on Dec. 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
King Bhumibol Ad... Thai royal guard march during a ceremony celebrating King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 85th birthday held at the the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Portugal Christm... A young woman takes a close look at a Christmas decoration set up at Lisbon's main Rossio square Wednesday, Dec. 5 2012. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
Thailand King's ... Thai Buddhist monks release lanterns in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012, during celebrations for Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej 85th birthday.(AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn)
Brazil Protest A man jogs past red carpets covered with beans and a cross that are part of a protest against the number of homicides nationwide on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. The Brazilian non-governmental organization, Rio de Paz, spread half a million black and white beans over red carpets and a national flag on the beach to protest the number of murders in Brazil over the past few years. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)
The 20th Anniver... An Indian woman devotee offers prayers to the setting sun on the 20th anniversary of the Babri mosque demolition in Ayodhya, India, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. In 1992, tens of thousands of Hindu extremists ripped apart the 16th century Babri mosque at Ayodhya in northern India as security forces watched. Hindus say it is the birthplace of their god Rama and contend a temple to him stood on the site before the mosque. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)
Czech Republic S... Men dressed as St. Nicholas and Angel hold a small boy during a St. Nicholas parade at the Old Town Square in Prague, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. During this traditional parade people dressed as St. Nicholas, angel and devil, reward well-behaved children with small presents. The Old Town Hall is in the background. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Germany Nefertit... The Nefertiti bust is pictured during a press preview of the exhibition 'In The Light Of Amarna' at the Neues Museum (New Museum) in Berlin, Germany, Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012. The exhibition commemorates the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the bust of the Nefertiti. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn, pool)
India Ambedkar A... Buddhist monks carry portraits of B.R. Ambedkar as they participate in a procession to mark his death anniversary at Chaityabhoomi memorial in Mumbai, India, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. Ambedkar, an untouchable, or dalit, and a prominent Indian freedom fighter, was the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, which outlawed discrimination based on caste. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Netherlands Weat... Light snow covers a playground in Amsterdam, Thursday Dec. 6, 2012. Temperatures in The Netherlands have dropped to around freezing point and father winter has covered parts of the country with light snow. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)
Maine Storm A lobster boat heads out to sea at dawn, Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, of South Portland, Maine. A red sky in the morning often indicates a storm system is moving east. Weathermen are calling for showers by the afternoon. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
France Christmas... The traffic moves along the Champs Elysees looking towards the Place de la Concorde, Thursday, Dec 6, 2012 in Paris. Trees are lit - along with a big wheel - in the Tuileries gardens for Christmas. (AP Photo/ Jacques Brinon)
Argentina Weathe... A car is submerged in flood water in front of a home in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. Heavy rain flooded the capital on Thursday. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
Peru Sea Lions One-year old sea lions named Camilo, right, and Alex swim in the ocean after being released into the wild in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. The sea lions were rehabilitated by Peru's Organization for Research and Conservation of Aquatic Animals, ORCA, after being found injured one month ago on a Lima beach. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Russia New Year Moscow's Kremlin is reflected in Christmas-tree decoration balls hung on a Christmas tree in Red Square on Friday, Dec. 7, 2012. New Year's is the biggest holiday of the year in Russia. (AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)
Germany Hanukkah... Rabbi Yehuda Teichtal, right, and Rabbi Segal Shmoel, left, install a giant Hanukkah Menorah, at the Pariser Platz in front of the Brandeburg Gate in Berlin, Friday, Dec. 7, 2012. The eight day Jewish Festival of Lights, Hanukkah will start on Dec. 8. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
UNESCO Ritual an... Members of the Bloco de Frevo group perform during a carnival parade in Olinda, in Brazil's northern Pernambuco state, Jan. 25, 2008. Frevo, the most popular rhythm of Pernambuco's carnival, turns 100 yeas and the Mangueira group, one of Brazil's best loved samba groups, will present a mix of samba and frevo during the Rio de Janeiro's carnival. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Philippines Typh... Rescuers retrieve flash flood victims from the debris of Tuesday's Typhoon Bopha at New Bataan township, Compostela Valley in southern Philippines Friday Dec. 7, 2012. Rescuers were digging through mud and debris Friday to retrieve more bodies strewn across a farming valley in the southern Philippines by a powerful typhoon. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)
India Kashmir Se... New recruits of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) take part in a passing out parade ceremony in Humhama, on the outskirts of Srinagar, India, Friday, Dec. 7, 2012. A total 365 recruits formally inducted into the BSF, will join Indian soldiers fighting separatist Islamic guerrillas in Kashmir to help end an insurgency that started in 1989. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin)
National Christm... President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, Malia Obama, Sasha Obama and Michelle Obama's mother Marian Robinson, participate in the 90th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the Ellipse south of the White House, Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)