From the streets of Caracas, Venezuela, to the highlands of Ethiopia, communities mark the season with traditions that blend faith, culture, and local identity that have endured for centuries.

Venezuela: Roller skating to Christmas Mass

In Venezuela, particularly in the capital Caracas, Christmas celebrations transform city streets into festive pathways. One of the country’s most famous traditions involves roller skating to early morning church services in the days leading up to Christmas.

Historically, some neighbourhoods even tied strings to children’s toes before bedtime, believing that angels skating through the streets would tug them awake for Mass. While the custom has evolved, streets are still occasionally closed to allow safe skating. This highlights the communal nature of the celebration.

The tradition highlights how faith and festivity merge in Venezuelan culture, even as the country continues to navigate economic and political challenges that have reshaped daily life in recent years.

Peru: Children take the nativity to the streets

In Peru , Christmas is marked by strong public participation, particularly among children. In some cities and towns, children dress as pastors or biblical figures and parade through the streets, reenacting scenes associated with the birth of Jesus Christ.

These processions reflect Peru’s deeply rooted Catholic traditions, introduced during the colonial period but reshaped through local customs and communal storytelling.

According to Peru Travel , Christmas celebrations often emphasise family gatherings, public performances, and religious devotion, making the holiday a visible part of urban and rural life alike.

Ghana - Feasting and large gatherings

Just like other parts of the world, Christians in Ghana start their Christmas celebrations from the 20th of December with Carol Services that are mostly conducted in the evenings.

The week before the 25th also marks a moment of vigorous shopping for the celebration ahead.

On the 25th, many visit the church in the morning with their best outfits to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.

After the morning service, families gather to share meals with friends and neighbours.

Ethiopia: Christmas marked by faith and a traditional game

In Ethiopia, Christmas, known as Ganna or Genna , is celebrated on January 7, following the Julian calendar observed by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. The holiday is deeply spiritual, beginning with an overnight church service and fasting that reflects the country’s ancient Christian heritage.

One of the most distinctive traditions associated with Ethiopian Christmas is a hockey-style team game also called Ganna. Played in open fields after morning worship, the game symbolises joy and communal unity following the religious observance.

The tradition is reported to be linked to shepherds celebrating the birth of Christ, echoing the biblical nativity story.

The above, based on 2017 GDP per capita data, uses East Germany, long considered a benchmark for post-socialist economic recovery, as a reference point, set at approximately €30,300 per person. Regions shown in red fall below that threshold.

Following reunification in 1990, East Germany inherited outdated infrastructure , lower productivity, and weaker industrial capacity. Since then, the German government has invested more than €2 trillion in reconstruction, subsidies, and regional development.

While income gaps between eastern and western Germany persist, East Germany’s GDP per capita now exceeds that of many EU regions.

According to Eurostat, several regions in Southern Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Eastern Europe , and the Balkans continue to trail behind eastern German states in output per person.

The map underscores long-standing structural challenges. Many red-marked regions are affected by low industrial diversification, weaker transport links, ageing populations, and chronic underinvestment.

In Southern Europe, the aftershocks of the 2008 financial crisis and the eurozone debt crisis slowed recovery for more than a decade. In Eastern Europe and the Balkans, the legacy of post-socialist transition and limited capital inflows continues to constrain growth.

The European Commission has repeatedly acknowledged that regional inequality within the EU remains high, even as national averages improve. Wealth tends to concentrate in capital cities and export-driven regions, leaving rural and peripheral areas behind.

The Japanese government has announced a $13.8 million humanitarian aid package for Yemen, targeting urgent needs such as food security, healthcare, and essential services. The support comes as the country continues to face one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with millions affected by conflict, displacement, and malnutrition. Japan reaffirmed its commitment to working with international partners to ensure effective aid delivery and support Yemen’s long-term stability.

Intense political efforts aim to ease tensions in Eastern Yemen

Yemen is experiencing increased political engagemen t to ease tensions in its eastern provinces, where rival forces have competed for influence amid fragile security. President Rashad Al-Alimi emphasised that strengthening state institutions is the top priority, describing effective governance as key to stability and lasting peace. The efforts come as local and regional actors push dialogue to prevent escalation in Hadramout and Al-Mahra, where recent frictions have raised concerns over security and cohesion.

Yemen’s future after the STC’s eastward expansion

Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council (STC) is expanding its influence in the eastern governorates of Hadramout and al-Mahra, underscoring the fragmented nature of the country’s decade-long conflict. The advances highlight how power in Yemen now extends beyond the government–Houthi divide, with multiple de facto authorities competing over security and resources. Backed by a regional power, the STC has emerged as the dominant force in the south and parts of the east, even as the government struggles to assert unified control and the economy deteriorates. Against this backdrop, President Rashad al-Alimi described the reported suspension of IMF activities as a warning sign of the political and economic costs of escalating tensions in the east.

Al-Arada discusses latest developments with the U.S. ambassador

President Rashad Mohammed al-Alimi met with U.S. Ambassador Steven Fagin to discuss bilateral relations, recent developments in Yemen’s eastern governorates, and U.S. support for government reforms. The talks also covered counterterrorism cooperation and efforts to deter the Iran-backed Houthis. Al-Alimi praised strong U.S. support for Yemen, including the designation of the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and backing for economic and political reform initiatives.

UN envoy urges de-escalation in Yemen’s eastern provinces

UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg has urged immediate de-escalation in the eastern provinces of Hadramout and Al-Mahra, citing concerns over rising instability and its potential impact on local communities and regional security. Speaking in Riyadh, he called on all parties to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue, stressing that stability in the east is essential to advancing Yemen’s broader peace process.