When Jesus rode into Jerusalem one week before what is now known as Easter, crowds of people lined the streets, cheered and threw palm branches on the road as sign of welcome. The Sunday before Easter is celebrated in many Christian churches by processions in which branches of palms are carried. Palm Sunday now marks the beginning of Holy Week. Traditionally, the palms from Palm Sunday processions are burnt and the ashes so formed are used in Ash Wednesday services in the following year.