A man holds an image of Jesus Christ while surrounded by churchgoer's holding palm fronds during a Palm Sunday mass, marking the start of the Holy Week, outside of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help church in Paranaque city, metro Manila, Philippines.Reuters
Palm Sunday commemorates the day Christians believe Jesus entered Jerusalem welcomed as the messiah only to be crucified five days later. This year, Palm Sunday was observed on 9 April. Christians across the globe took part in Palm Sunday celebrations, marking the start of Holy Week that will end on Easter Sunday i.e. on 16 April.
Popular traditions of the celebrations include processions with palm branches, the blessing of palms and the construction of small palm crosses. Palm branches are widely recognized symbol of peace and victory, hence their preferred use on Palm Sunday.
While the story of Palm Sunday is told in all four gospels in the Bible, Matthew 21 is the one that is read at most church services. IBTimes Singapore brings you a series of images showing the celebration of Palm Sunday around the world.
Penitents of "La Estrella" (The Star) brotherhood take part in a procession during the Holy Week in the Andalusian capital of Seville, southern Spain.Reuters
A penitent takes part in the Palm Sunday procession of the "Estudiantes" brotherhood in Oviedo, Spain.Reuters
Iraqis attend the first Palm Sunday procession in the burnt out main church of the Christian city of Qaraqosh since Iraqi forces retook it from Islamic States militants, Iraq.Reuters
Catholic Christian worshippers carry a wooden cross during a procession marking the Palm Sunday in the town of Ashmyany, Belarus.Reuters
A woman carries a baby inside Al-Saleeb church during Palm Sunday in al-Qassaa, Damascus, Syria.Reuters
A girl stands near candles inside Al-Saleeb church during Palm Sunday in al-Qassaa, Damascus, Syria.Reuters
A shadow of a cross is reflected on a Catholic believer during Palm Sunday celebration in San Pedro Sacatepequez on the outskirts of Guatemala City, Guatemala.Reuters
Catholic Christian worshippers take part in a Palm Sunday ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya.Reuters
Catholics take part in a procession to celebrate Palm Sunday in Panchimalco, El Salvador.Reuters
