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North Rhine-Westphalia celebrates Christmas in lockdown.
After all, the Corona regulations have been relaxed a little over the festive season.
In addition to your own household, four more people from your immediate family can join you from December 24th to 26th, not including children up to and including 14 years of age.
Christmas services are allowed under strict hygiene requirements.
Prime Minister Armin Laschet (CDU) had recently spoken out against a ban.
Laschet, a practicing Catholic, doesn't want to take part in any Christmas mass.
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Protestant face-to-face services rarely take place in North Rhine-Westphalia, the church leaders have mostly advised against it. Many Catholic parishes have also decided against attendance at church services, but not as widely as with the Protestants. Both churches reject a general cancellation of services - the decision must be made on site.