As Christians around the world await one of the most auspicious holidays of the year – Easter, preparations are in full swing as Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week today. This day has deep meaning for believers and sets the tone for Good Friday and eventually Easter Sunday. This year, Palm Sunday is celebrated on March 29.
What is Palm Sunday?
Palm Sunday, celebrated a week before Easter, marks the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. It is believed that people celebrated the occasion by waving palm branches to welcome him, hence the name ‘Palm Sunday.’ Also called Passion Sunday, it marks the beginning of the last week of the solemn season of Lent. In Western Christianity, this day precedes Easter.
This festival emphasizes the importance of humility, peace and faith. According to the Gospels, the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem took place a week before his resurrection. As mentioned in the Bible, when Jesus rode a donkey to Jerusalem, people put down their cloaks and small tree branches. While palm branches represent victory, the donkey is considered an animal of peace, unlike the horse, which is an animal of war. The people sang the sacred hymn, “Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord,” as they welcomed Jesus Christ to the holy city on this day.
Considered the most sacred time in the Christian calendar, this day prepares Christians for the important events that follow, including the Last Supper and the Crucifixion, which lead to the celebration of Easter.
Palm Sunday celebration around the world and rituals
On this day, churches around the world hold prayer services and processions where congregants wave palm trees or branches. In addition, the occasion is celebrated with songs and readings from the Bible. Many also hold processions where people carry palm branches.
In many traditions, blessed palm leaves are kept safely until it is time to burn them to prepare the ashes for next year’s Ash Wednesday. Palm Sunday is celebrated in different ways in different countries, while the essence of the festival remains the same.
During this Holy Week, devotees remember the last days of Jesus and reflect on their faith. Holy Week will end on April 5 this year.
