The iconic "Nutcracker" ballet has become a Christmas tradition around the world. DW's Juri Rescheto went behind the scenes of a production in Vladivostok, where one young dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet Academy got the chance of a lifetime.

French travelers heading home for the holidays faced canceled trains and packed roads, as a strike over pension reform showed no signs of easing. Macron urged for a "truce" and for striking workers to act "responsibly."

The late-night Christmas cruiser was pulled over by police outside the city of Cologne. In his defense, the electric scooter rider told police he "accidentally" entered the highway, reportedly still clutching a beer.

Around 3.8 million voters can pick among 11 candidates, but only three are at the forefront. The government has been criticized for setting the date three days before Christmas when many people are travelling.

Dozens of Christian Palestinians attend midnight mass in the Gaza Strip to celebrate Christmas.

Hoards of punters gather to bid on last-minute meats for their Christmas meal at an open-air auction at London's Smithfield Market.

As Nigeria continues to partially close its land borders with Benin and Niger, shoppers in Nigeria continue to lament the high price of rice and other commodities as they celebrate Christmas.

Record numbers of holidaymakers are now visiting Finland's northern Lapland region in winter, in search of an authentic Christmas experience. But despite the economic benefits, the tourism boom faces backlash over concerns about the impact on the area's indigenous Sami people, and implications for the environment in the vulnerable Arctic region.

Just two days before the Christmas holiday, authorities will issue permits to Christians from Gaza to travel into Israel. Christian leaders in Jerusalem had condemned the travel ban and urged authorities to lift it.

Hong Kongers gather during lunch time to pen words of encouragement on Christmas cards for anti-government protesters in jail.

A group of seven young men beat to death a firefighter in front of his wife and another couple after they visited Augsburg's Christmas market. The murder has shocked the city and the wider state of Bavaria.

1. Make a budget and stick with it A budget is helpful in many facets of life. Christmas is no different. 2. Don't forget to budget hidden costs Things like holiday travel, Christmas parties or children's activities are easy to overlook, but are an important part of the budget and more.