Nowruz, the spring equinox, is celebrated as a holiday across the region and is New Year's Day on the Iranian calendar. Iranians, like Jews, celebrate the holiday by decorating a table with seven spring-related foods. The table spread traditionally includes some (painted) eggs.

Faithful Christians around the world celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Sunday, from Vatican City where Pope Francis made a surprise appearance in his popemobile, to Ukraine, where a temporary Easter truce with Russia appeared in doubt in parts of the nation.

It was a meeting of East and West on Sunday as people around the world celebrated Easter on the same day, an overlap that happens every three to four years.