Palm Sunday: 12 stunning pictures of celebrations around the world

Yesterday was Palm Sunday; the day Christians remember Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. It marks the start of Holy Week – leading up to Jesus' death on Good Friday, and resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Christians around the world celebrate Palm Sunday – named so because people threw palms on the ground as Jesus rode by – with ritual processions where palm branches are carried into church. These palms are blessed, and sometimes folded into crosses.

Here's a look at some of the celebrations from across the globe:

A Catholic priest sprinkles holy water to bless churchgoers' palm fronds during mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help church in Paranaque city, Manila.

 Reuters

Members of the clergy carry palm fronds as they take part in a procession at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem's Old City. 

 Reuters

Pope Francis leads the Palm Sunday mass at Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican.

A woman prays on a hill with wooden crosses after a procession in the town of Oshmiany, Belarus.

 Reuters

Belarussian Catholics carry a wooden cross in Oshmiany.

 Reuters

Christian Maronite children hold palm fronds during a procession in the coastal city of Tripoli, northern Lebanon.

 Reuters

Children attend during a Palm Sunday procession in Pontevedra, northern Spain.

 Reuters

Catholics carry a statue of Jesus Christ on a donkey during a procession outside the Metropolitan Cathedral, in downtown Asuncion, Paraguay.

 Reuters

Clergy take part in a procession on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

 Reuters

Catholics hold weavings made of palm fronds during a procession at the 20 de Julio Church in Bogota, Colombia.

 Reuters

People take part in the Palm Sunday procession and traditional contest for the largest handmade palms (made of wicker twigs and decorated with colourful flowers and ribbons) in Lipnica Murowana near Krakow, southern Poland.

 Reuters
related articles
The Stations: Dramatic recreation of Easter devotion depicts refugees\' journey of suffering
The Stations: Dramatic recreation of Easter devotion depicts refugees' journey of suffering

The Stations: Dramatic recreation of Easter devotion depicts refugees' journey of suffering

The promise of Easter: After the wilderness comes a new beginning
The promise of Easter: After the wilderness comes a new beginning

The promise of Easter: After the wilderness comes a new beginning

Palm Sunday: What Jesus\' mission teaches us about God\'s timing
Palm Sunday: What Jesus' mission teaches us about God's timing

Palm Sunday: What Jesus' mission teaches us about God's timing

How did Jesus die – and why? Understanding the Crucifixion
How did Jesus die – and why? Understanding the Crucifixion

How did Jesus die – and why? Understanding the Crucifixion

A need-to-know guide to Palm Sunday
A need-to-know guide to Palm Sunday

A need-to-know guide to Palm Sunday

News
MPs urged to reject abortion amendments
MPs urged to reject abortion amendments

Pro-life campaigners are calling on MPs to vote against two proposed amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill that would effectively allow abortion up to birth. 

Tory MP calls for end to de facto Islamic blasphemy laws
Tory MP calls for end to de facto Islamic blasphemy laws

This is not what the Public Order Act was intended for

'Woke' council may face legal challenge to mass display of Pride flags
'Woke' council may face legal challenge to mass display of Pride flags

In previous years the flags have stayed up beyond the allotted time.

Trans certificates reach all time high
Trans certificates reach all time high

The number of people in Britain with gender recognition certificates (GRCs) has tripled in the last five years, reaching an all time high.