CAIRO: Churches across the Middle East celebrated Palm Sunday this year with traditional customs, which included vendors selling palm fronds near churches.
Sunday was celebrated as Palm Sunday in Egypt and at many Eastern churches in the Middle East. The holy week leads in Egypt to the Coptic Orthodox Easter, which takes place on April 12, a week after Easter in Europe.
Vendors craft the fronds into religious shapes such as crowns and crosses, and other forms like hearts.
Egyptians have valued palm fronds since ancient times, skillfully crafting them in a variety of ways. Palm fronds and olive branches symbolize peace.
Christians attend Mass carrying palm branches to commemorate Christ’s reception in Jerusalem, where people welcomed him with palms.
