Thai children attentive at ceremony to become monks.
1500 Thai children will be a monk on Makha bucha day. Bangkok, Thailand.

Wat Phan Tao Temple in Chiang Mai. At the stroke of midnight people release the floating lanterns into the air, and with them let go of their burdens and worries.

Wat Phan Tao Temple in Chiang Mai. Buddhist monks release floating lanterns to welcome the New Year 2559 of the Buddhist calendar (2016).

Wat Phan Tao Temple in Chiang Mai. Buddhist monk listens to the New Year's Eve sermon.

Wat Phan Tao Temple in Chiang Mai. Monk listens to the New Year's Eve sermon.

Wat Phan Tao Temple in Chiang Mai. Buddhist monks listen to the New Year's Eve sermon in English.

Wat Phan Tao Temple in Chiang Mai. At the stroke of midnight young monks release the floating lanterns into the air, the wishes and blessings are written on the paper.

Wat Phan Tao Temple in Chiang Mai. New Year's Eve. At the stroke of midnight a tourist blows the candle that she lit the floating lantern with.

Wat Phan Tao Temple in Chiang Mai. Buddhist monks release floating lanterns to welcome the New Year 2559 of the Buddhist calendar (2016).

Wat Phan Tao temple in Chiang Mai. Buddhists Monks meditate during the New Year's Eve sermon.

On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killing over 8,000 people and injuring thousands more.

A Nepali man cooks food for dozens of displaced residents in Bhaktapur, Nepal on May 5, 2015. On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killing over 7,000 people and injuring thousands more.

Nepali residents take part in a candle lighting ceremony for those lost in the earthquake on a street in Kathmandu, Nepal on May 4, 2015. On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killing over 7,000 people and injuring thousands more.

Dani Tamung, 75, cries as she describes the loss of her home and possessions due to the earthquake in Bansbari, Nepal on May 3, 2015. On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killing over 6,000 people and injuring thousands more.

Nepali rescue workers discuss safety concerns as they prepare to remove a body from the wreckage of a building in Kathmandu, Nepal on May 1, 2015. On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killing over 5,000 people and injuring thousands more.

Nepali rescue workers put gloves on after they find a body in the rubble of a collapsed building in Kathmandu, Nepal on May 1, 2015. On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killing over 5,000 people and injuring thousands more.

A tired Nepali soldier takes a break from rescue efforts in Kathmandu, Nepal on May 1, 2015. On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killing over 5,000 people and injuring thousands more.

A young woman with a head injury is spoon fed at a hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal on May 1, 2015. On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killing over 5,000 people and injuring thousands more.

On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killing over 8,000 people and injuring thousands more.

A patient has traction applied to his spinal column at a hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal on May 1, 2015. On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killing over 5,000 people and injuring thousands more.

A Japanese K-9 unit searches for the body of a baby in the rubble of a collapsed home in Bhaktapur, Nepal on April 30, 2015. On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killing over 5,000 people and injuring thousands more.

Kathmandu residents displaced by the earthquake spend time in temporary shelters in a park in Kathmandu, Nepal on April 30, 2015. On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killing over 5,000 people and injuring thousands more.

On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killing over 8,000 people and injuring thousands more.

Kathmandu residents perform cremation rituals for loved ones killed in a devastating earthquake at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal on April 29, 2015. On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killing over 5,000 people and injuring thousands more.

A Japanese aid worker walks past a military plane sent from India arrive at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal on April 29, 2015. On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killing over 5,000 people and injuring thousands more.

On April 25, 2015, Nepal suffered a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killing over 8,000 people and injuring thousands more.

A vigil was held in Berlin to commemorate the hundreds of migrants who died in the shipwreck off the Libyan coast on April 19. People taking part laid candles and flowers on the street. The ceremony turned into a peaceful protest in front of the European Commission Berlin office in an attempt to raise awareness about the need to step up search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean.

A man offers a lighted candle during the vigil on Unter den Linden street in Berlin.

A young man lighting a candle at the vigil in Berlin to commemorate the hundreds who died in the shipwreck in the Mediterranean.

A man and a woman during the one minute silence to commemorate the hundreds who died in the shipwreck in the Mediterranean.

A young woman placing a candle on a bike during the vigil to commemorate the hundreds who died in the shipwreck in the Mediterranean.

People lighting candles on Unter den Linden street in Berlin to commemorate the hundreds who died in the shipwreck in the Mediterranean.

A man holding a candle during the vigil to commemorate the hundreds who died in the shipwreck in the Mediterranean.

Candles and flowers laid in front of the European Commission office in Berlin.

A woman holds a candle and a flyer in Berlin Unter den Linden asking “Fortress Europe” to open up its borders.

Holy Saturday in Pievėnai (Mažeikiai district municipality, Lithuania).

Every Easter, in the small Lithuanian village of Pievenai, a group of young men in uniform guard the local church to ensure their yearly procession goes undisturbed.  However, they are not guarding against street gangs or violent criminals, they are guardian against what they call the “Easter Jews”; a group of young local men wearing masks and clothes resembling visual stereotypes of orthodox Jews.

Both groups of young men are part of a dying Lithuanian Easter ritual in which the people in uniform prevent the so-called “Easter Jews” from breaking into the church, stealing the crucifix, distracting worshipers from god, and disturbing the resurrection of Christ.

On the eve of Easter, the guards begin their night watch, as the young men dressed up as “Easter Jews” begin trying to infiltrate the church and disrupt the evening mass. The guard’s night watch continues through the night until the last worshipers have left the church. The guards then go to rest in a nearby house where they play cards and drink beer.

The next morning, at the crack of dawn, a beating drum awakens the villagers and summons them to the morning mass. The guards return to the church, along with the “Easter Jews”. After the service is held, worshipers and guards begin a procession in which they walk around the church three times. As this is happening, the “Easter-Jews” run around the church in the opposite direction a total of nine times, with the intention of disrupting the procession and the resurrection of Christ.

There are four teams that dress up as soldiers and they all wear different colored uniforms. The red uniforms represent the blood of Christ, the green ones symbolize regeneration and hope, the blue ones symbolize the ascension of Jesus, and the white ones represent the sheet in which the body of the Christ was wrapped.

According to the local priest Saulius Styra the origin of the tradition is not known: "It is said that virtually all the churches had such soldiers before the [Second World] War." However, locals say that the Pievenai is the only village that still practices the tradition.

Most Lithuanians today are unaware of this outdated tradition. For many of those who are aware of it, they regard it as a relic of the past and an outdated remnant of old-world fascist mentalities. For them it is out of step with modern times.

However, those participating do not see it that way. For them it is simply a local tradition derived from the bible that is not meant to offend or demonize anyone. “Easter-Jews are tempting believers,” explains Priest Styra, “they are equated to devils. And this scenario is taken out of Jesus’ Crucifixion [from the Bible]. In the region where Jesus was crucified, everyone was Jewish, and I do not see any humiliation of Jewish people in this play”.

A soldier after finishing night watch.

On Easter morning the commissionaire€“ reports to the priest that the cross was kept safe.