Many world religions observe time of renewal

Protestants and Roman Catholics worldwide this week will undertake the rites for Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday, continues with Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, and ends with Easter, which falls on April 17. Easter is the most important and oldest festival of Christianity, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It will be a holy time in the Jewish tradition as well. Passover, which commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, begins at sundown on Friday, celebrated with a meal full of symbolism called a seder.

For Muslims, Ramadan – a month of prayer and reflection – began in early April and continues this week with daytime fasting and special evening meals with family or community.