World prepares for Easter in multitude of ways

It is a time for celebration, for Easter eggs, springtime festivals and the end of the dark days of Lent.

From the Philippines to Iraq, from China to the Holy Land, Christians around the world have been taking part in the processions, penitence and prayers of Holy Week.

Iraq's small Christian community, whose churches have been targeted by Islamic militants, ventured out on Palm Sunday bearing palm fronds to commemorate the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.

Thousands of tourists have flocked to Spain for the spectacular religious processions by masked penitents throughout the week of sacrifice.

On Tuesday night, crowds gathered in Murcia, southern Andalusia, to watch barefooted Spaniards of the "nazareno" brotherhood carry a sculpture of Christ through the streets.

In the Philippines, deeply religious believers in the predominantly Roman Catholic country have marked Easter week in the traditional way by being hoisted onto a crucifix where they are nailed to the cross. Dozens of Filipinos engage in public self-flagellation, mirroring the suffering of Christ.

Foreigners have been banned however from joining the crucifixion ceremonies after a Japanese man, who had said that he was praying for a cure for his brother's terminal illness, had himself filmed and used the footage in a porn film.

The security forces in the Philippines have remained on full alert during Easter week. The military announced yesterday that they had found eight sacks of explosives, stashed by the separatist Muslim Abu Sayyaf Group, ready to be used in attacks in Manila during Easter week.

As the world gears up for the joyful church services celebrating Easter Sunday, the event has been overshadowed this year by the illness of the Pope. The thoughts and prayers of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics will be with the ailing 84-year old Pope, who yesterday appeared fleetingly at his apartment window in silence to bless the crowds of weeping pilgrims in St Peter's Square.

For the first time in the 27 years of his papacy, after being rushed to hospital for throat surgery on 24th February, he has delegated all his Holy Week activities to senior cardinals, except his Easter Sunday blessing.

Tomorrow he will miss the Via Crucis service at the Rome Colosseum, marking Christ's passion and death.

But the importance of Easter for many people is not just its religious significance, but an opportunity for eating chocolate, family fun, and a long weekend. At the Royal Easter show in Sydney this week, Lisa the Pig could be seen flying through the air as she jumped from a diving board into a swimming pool at the Pig Racing and Diving display.

- INDEPENDENT