To mark Easter weekend, Le Monde traces the history of this symbol-laden ritual.

NATHAN: Baptism is a symbol of new life. It is a fresh start for a person to be clean of sin. It's a way of expressing publicly that you're a Christian. There are lots of symbols in a baptism ...

Water is used in baptism, and is a symbol of washing away sin and the start of a new life. Jesus told his disciples that they were to baptise those who came to follow him. Initially it seems that ...