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3. THE CHRISTMAS HIJACKING

On Christmas Eve 1994, Air France Flight 8969 from Algeria was boarded by four men armed with machine guns, dynamite and homemade grenades. What followed was a two-day stand-off that saw three people executed and the fate of 220 others hang in the balance. The hijackers were members of a violent militant Islamic sect, pushing for the establishment of a sharia state in Algeria.

At first, authorities assumed they had taken hostages in order to negotiate. In fact, the foursome were planning to fly the plane to Paris and explode it directly above the Eiffel Tower, killing everyone on board and potentially hundreds more in the streets below. They didn’t want anything in return; they just wanted to kill. The plan was an eerie foreshadowing of 9/11 , and a large-scale tragedy was only averted by French Special Forces storming the grounded plane. All four militants were killed, but the death toll could have been so much higher.

2. JONBENET RAMSEY'S LAST CHRISTMAS

The story of JonBenét Ramsey makes for some grim reading. A six-year-old beauty queen, she disappeared on Christmas Day in 1996. Eight hours later, her body was found in the basement of her home, gagged and hidden beneath a white blanket. There were no signs of sexual assault, no incriminating scraps of evidence, and nothing to indicate the murderer or murderers had forced their way inside. It was an utterly perplexing case, and we still haven’t gotten around to solving it.

For a long time, everyone suspected her parents or brother of the murder, but no supporting evidence was ever found. DNA samples taken from her body didn’t match family members. There was no obvious motive. In the end, it simply got marked down as a mystery; meaning her killer is still at large, almost certainly hiding in plain sight, untroubled by his violent past. Will the Christmas murder of JonBenét ever be solved? Who knows?

1. THE LAWSON FAMILY

The 1929 Christmas Day murders of the Lawson family in rural North Carolina remain one of the darkest chapters in the state’s history. On that day, 43-year old Charlie Lawson quietly snapped, picked up a shotgun, and systematically murdered his wife and children. He shot five of them at close range and then bludgeoned his 4-month old daughter to death. He then laid their bodies outside the house, hands crossed across their chests, walked into a nearby patch of woodland, and blew his own brains out.

The murders were an inexplicable tragedy, made all the worse by the lack of motive. No one knew why Lawson would slaughter his family, or why he had sent his eldest son Arthur away on an errand before he started shooting. But perhaps the strangest aspect to our modern sensibilities is the behavior of Charlie’s brother, Marion. No sooner was the family buried than Marion opened the house as a tourist attraction, charging visitors to come see where seven of his relatives had died in terror and agony.

When we think of Christmas, we think about good times with family, exchanging presents, perhaps celebrating with our religious community, and enjoying the feeling of love and togetherness. In short, Christmas is normally viewed as an all-round positive holiday. But tragedy can strike at any time of the year, and when December is marred by disaster then Christmas can be a real downer. Whether it’s due to a breakup, a death in the family, injury, or illness, sometimes the holidays aren’t quite what we’d expect.

Fate has been known to have an ironic sense of timing, and never is this truer than when tragedy occurs at the “most wonderful time of the year.” Whether the source of disaster is man or Mother Nature, the following are tragedies that have marred the festive season for individuals, families or whole communities.

http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-notorious-christmas-tragedies.php

sources: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2014/dec/22/christmas-trees-from-around-the-world-in-pictures

http://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pictures-christmas-2017-from-around-the-world-622

http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/holidays/photos/christmas-around-the-world

cc: lalasticlala

Macedonia

The illuminated Christmas tree in Macedonia’s capital Skopje

Italy

The traditional Christmas tree outside the Coliseum in Rome, Italy

Spain

A tall and golden Christmas tree in the central square of Plaza Puerta del Sol, Madrid, Spain

Czech Republic

An illuminated christmas tree sits in the centre of the christmas market in Prague’s Old Town Square

Russia

A snowy scene outside Moscow’s GUM department store in Red Square

Italy

A less traditional creation in the Piazza Gae Aulenti, Milan, Italy

Lebanon

A Christmas tree made from gold-coloured iron leaves, stands at the entrance of the ancient city of Byblos in Beirut

France

An upside down Christmas tree stands at the centre of the department store Galeries Lafayette in Paris.

Malaysia

A Christmas tree stands against the Malaysian landmark Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

United States

Performers sing during the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Ellipse, south of the White House in Washington, DC.

United Kingdom

The traditional Christmas tree, a gift from the people of Norway, stands in Trafalgar Square, London.

Brazil

A 85-meter-high Christmas tree in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is the world’s highest floating Christmas tree as registered by the Guiness World Records

Rio de Janeiro

Fireworks explode near a traditional Rio de Janeiro Christmas tree. During the official lighting ceremony at Rodrigo de Freitas lake. In Brazil, Santa Claus is called Papai Noel.

Finland
Rovaniemi, Finland is proud to be the official home of Santa Claus.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Christmas in Reykjavik is a magical time with its winter landscape and unique traditions.

Australia

The Christmas holiday falls during Australia's summer. It is popular to go camping during this time.

Brussels

Christmas lights illuminate La Grand-Place in Brussels. Children in Belgium have 2 Christmas visitors. On Dec 6, St Nicholas day. St Nicholas brings presents. Then, on Christmas day, Santa Claus delivers additional gifts.

Beijing

An illuminated Christmas tree is seen in front of the National stadium in Beijing on Christmas eve. Christmas is not a public holiday in China but it is celebrated across the country as western tradition have become increasingly popular.

Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree! Bath Abbey comes to life behind the beautiful Christmas tree in Somerset.

Christmas in California!
Union Square, San Francisco is all decked up for the holidays. Image via travelwonderphotography. (Instagram)

Let there be light!
Old Bond Street, known for having for luxury shops, in Central London, is lit!

Carnaby Carnival
Carnaby Street hosts the Carnaby Carnival, one of the main attractions in Central London.

Moscow, all decked up!
The uber-cool, cosmopolitan Russian capital embraces all hues of Christmas festivities.

Colours of Christmas A Christmassy view of Tromso, Norway.

In pictures: Christmas 2017 from around the world
As the 'merry' time of the year approaches, we take a look at Christmas celebrations from across the globe.

pedronule:
sorry @phayvoursky. You're absolutely right!

CONFAM. CROWN ME A GENIUS