Christmas approaches:::part 1...

The Christian religious holiday may not arrive until December 25, but secular and commercial festivities have been in full swing for almost a month already. Increasingly the non-religious aspects of the holiday are celebrated even in countries without a strong Christian tradition. Gathered here are images of preparations from around the world as it begins to look a lot like Christmas. 

Christmas angels and a Santa Claus ride on Segways in Berlin on November 3, 2011. Santa opened his job agency for students who want to work as Santa Claus or a Christmas Angels in the upcoming christmas season. (Wolfgang Kumm/AFP/Getty Images)

Jason and Emily Gray hold their two-year-old twins Lacey and Ashley under the the holiday lights at the annual Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in Boise, Idaho. (Darin OswaldIdaho Statesman/AP) #

A trumpeter plays during the traditional Christmas tree illuminating and opening of the traditional Christmas market in front of the Tyn Church at the Old Town Square on November 26, 2011 in Prague. (Michal Cizek/AFP/Getty Images) #

Shoppers enter a department store at midnight in Covington, La. Early signs point to bigger crowds at the nation's malls and stores as retailers like Macy's and Target opened their doors at midnight. (David Grunfeld/The Times-Picayune/AP) #

Balloons at an Oakland, Calif. retailer advertise sale prices to shoppers on November 24, 2011. The store opened before midnight to encourage early shopping. (Noah Berger/AP) 

Father Christmas waves to the crowds during Harrods 26th Annual Christmas Parade on November 5 in London. (Steve Finn/Harrods via Getty Images) 

German bicycle designer Didi Senft, also known as 'El Diablo', poses in front of a giant Christmas candle arch in the town of Storkow, Germany on November 24, 2011. (Thomas Peter/Reuters) #

In this image taken with a fish-eye lens, the traditional Regent Street Christmas Lights 2011 in central London's main shopping area are switched on as fireworks explode overhead on November 8, 2011. (David Parry/PA/AP) 

Workers paint Christmas trees made of twigs along a street in Manila November 10, 2011. (Romeo Ranoco/Reuters) #

A man dressed as Santa Claus is surrounded by local children giving him their Christmas wish lists as he arrives at the Santa Claus post office in Himmelpfort, Germany on November 10, 2011. Children can send their Christmas wish lists to Himmelpfort from around the world and receive a reply from Santa. (John Macdougall/AFP/Getty Images) #

Women reply to letters addressed to Father Christmas at a special Christmas post office in Himmelpfort, Germany on November 10, 2011. The post office has a special Christmas service, replying to mail addressed to Santa Claus that were sent by children from all over the world. Organizers expect to receive some 280,000 letters and wish lists from children writing in 17 languages. (Thomas Peter/Reuters) #

A Santa diver feeds whale shark "Hachibei" at the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise aquarium in Yokohama, on November 13, 2011. (Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images) #

Parents take pictures of children posing at a shopping mall in Hong Kong on November 19, 2011. (Laurent Fievet/AFP/Getty Images) #

Lebanese workers are hoisted by a crane as they decorate a Christmas tree with the slogan of "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year" in English, French and Arabic in Beirut on November 21, 2011. (Hussein Malla/AP) 

A shop window attracts customers in New York on November 21, 2011. Midtown retailers are known for splashy displays that have become as much a holiday tradition as the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree or sidewalk Santas. (Bebeto Mat

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Thanks & Regards

SHYJITH M