Interesting topic. Here in Brasil, more specifically in Rio de Janeiro, the weather is always hot, we celebrate eating (usually too much hehehe), drinking, light some fireworks, distributing hugs and smiles and doing some charity. I'm not from a religious family, but many pray during the christmas night. In brazilian portuguese christmas is called "Natal".
I heard the news about this threat scenario in your country and I felt empathy. Here it seems that we live under the hand of a not-officialized narcotraffic empire, so the fear is always near and is part of the Carioca routine. But i do, as you do, know that this fear is weaker than our hope. I wish you the best!