This Week in Photos, Week of Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2012

Actors dressed as Joseph and the Three Wise Men stroll past the US Capitol Building after participating in a live nativity scene in front of the Supreme Court in DC. The Christian Defense Coalition created “The Nativity Project” event to demonstrate that such displays are protected by the First Amendment.

Bernhard Gruber of Austria competes during the FIS Nordic Combined World Cup Team Sprint in Kuusamo, Finland.

Berlin Technical University students dress up as Santas and angels for a pre-Christmas gathering at the cafeteria of the Studentenwerk Nord student support service. The students completed a Santa workshop and will visit company parities and families during the holiday season as a way to earn extra money to help fund their studies.

The Third Battalion Yorkshire Regiment soldiers return home from a 6-month tour of duty in Afghanistan and march through York, England in their homecoming parade.

Fans hold up signs for David Beckham at the soccer player’s final game for the Los Angeles Galaxy in the 2012 MLS Cup match at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

Attempting to break the skinny-dipping world record, people line up to be counted before diving into the water at Papamoa Beach in Tauranga, New Zealand.

Broadway’s “The Lion King” cast members attend a lighting ceremony in honor of the show’s 15th anniversary on Broadway at the Empire State Building. The performers “flipped the switch” to light the building with the signature yellow of the production.

A competitor crawls under barb wire during the first annual Hidden Warrior challenge, a 10K obstacle course in Melbourne.

Montee Ball, #28 of the Wisconsin Badgers, celebrates a 70-31 victory over the Nebraska Cornhuskers after the Big 10 Conference Championship Game in Indianapolis.

Thousands hold up candles and sing to honor King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 85th birthday in Bangkok. The King has reigned since 1946, making him the world’s longest reigning monarch alive.

Jimmy Rider pulls an 8-foot tall Christmas tree attached to his bicycle, as part of his Ever-Green Delivery service, in Somerville, MA.

Members of the Native American Women Warriors along with US military veterans, present the colors during the opening of the White House Tribal Nations Conference at the Department of Interior in DC.

Runners compete dressed in Santa suits during the annual 6K Santa Run in Battersea Park, London.

Visitors skate on the newly opened skating rink in Moscow’s Red Square. Because of its location just outside of the Kremlin, it took nearly a year to get permission to build the rink.

A young boy jumps into a beachside pool at Bronte beach in Sydney. Temperatures in the high 80’s have brought people to the beaches seeking relief from the heat wave.