Holy Week in Mexico until only the center candle, representing Jesus, remains lit. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, and many communities have special masses dedicated to the blessing of palm fronds. These fronds are often woven into crosses and other designs, sometimes quite intricate and brought by parishioners to have holy water sprinkled on them. Some fronds are later burned and the ashes saved for marking foreheads on the following Ash Wednesday. Maundy Thursday is the beginning of the celebration of Easter proper. Cathedrals in the country have special masses celebrated by bishops, with “chrism” a sacred oil used in the sacraments, is
Saint George's Day Georgiritt takes place on 23 April and leads from Gunzendorf up onto the Senftenberg. This is a kind of pilgrimage traditionally done on horseback. Under the state atheism of former Eastern Bloc countries, the celebration of Saint George's Day was historically suppressed. If St George's Day (or any saint's day) falls during Holy Week or on Easter Day, it is observed on Easter Monday. The Russian Orthodox Church, which uses the Julian calendar, has two important feasts of Saint George. Besides the feast of 23 April (6 May in the Gregorian calendar), common through all Christendom, Russians also celebrate the