Three women pose for photos near a Santa statue in front of a shopping mall in downtown Beijing, China, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009. 
A rowing team in Santa Claus costumes rows past the Marina Bay Sands casino-resort which is under construction in Singapore December 24, 2009. Las Vegas Sands' original target was to open the casino-resort on the edge of Singapore's central business district by the fourth quarter of 2009. The opening date was later revised to end-March 2010 because of a shortage of sand and workers.
A zookeeper places a Santa Claus hat on a giant panda at a zoo in Xiamen, Fujian province December 24, 2009.
Two shop workers dressed up as Chinese Qing Dynasty princesses prepare themselves near a statue of Santa Claus at the entrance of a shopping mall in downtown Beijing, China, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009.
Muslim and Christian schoolchildren stand around a Santa Claus during a Christmas party at the Small World school in Amman December 24, 2009.
A young Santa helper poses as Chen Yunlin, chairman of China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), left, and his counterpart Chiang Pin-kung arrive at the famed tourist resort area of Sun Moon Lake, central Taiwan, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009. Chen is in Taiwan for a week's worth of cross strait negotiations aimed to boost economic and trade relations with his counterpart Chiang Pin-kun.
A woman dressed up as Santa Claus takes part in Christmas celebrations with Palestinian children at al-Rahebat al-Wardeh school in Gaza City December 24, 2009.
Muslim and Christian schoolchildrean wear Santa hats during a Christmas party at the Small World school in Amman December 24, 2009.
A U.S. soldier walks by a Santa Claus decoration on Christmas Eve at Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009.
Participants dressed in Santa Claus costumes swing hula hoops during a competition on Christmas Eve in Hefei, Anhui, province December 24, 2009.
Muslim and Christian schoolchildren stand around a Santa Claus during a Christmas party at the Small World school in Amman December 24, 2009.
Young and old women pose for photos with a Santa statue in front of a shopping mall in downtown Beijing, China, Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009photo: AP, Reuters