Palm Sunday is an active holiday that falls a week before Easter Sunday. Christian believers celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, which took place a week before his death and resurrection. For many Christian churches, Palm Sunday, often referred to as Holy Sunday, marks the beginning of Holy Week, which ends on Easter Sunday.
Historical reference
Jesus went to Jerusalem knowing that this journey would end with his sacrificial death on the cross for the sins of all mankind. Before he entered the city, he sent two disciples forward to the village of Bethage to find a hardy stallion:
The men brought the stallion to Jesus and put their cloaks on the animal's back. When Jesus sat on a young donkey, he rode into Jerusalem without haste and without excessive pomp.
People greeted Jesus with enthusiasm, waving palm branches and covering his path with leaves:
The cries of "Hosanna" meant "save now," and the palm branches symbolized good and victory. People waved palm branches to greet, praise and honor Jesus Christ:
On this first Palm Sunday, the celebration quickly spread throughout the city. People even threw their cloaks along the path that Jesus rode as an act of reverence and submission to the Lord.
The crowd praised Jesus enthusiastically because they believed he would overthrow Rome. They recognized him as the promised Messiah from Zechariah 9: 9:
Although people have not yet fully understood Christ's mission, they worshiped and honored God:
Immediately after this Great celebration, Jesus Christ began his journey to the cross.
How is Palm Sunday celebrated today?
Palm Sunday, or Holy Sunday, as it is called in some Christian churches, is the sixth Sunday of Great Lent and the last Sunday before Easter. Believers celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.
On this day, Christians remember the sacrificial death of Christ on the cross, praise God for the gift of salvation and hopefully await the second coming of the Lord.
Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.
Many churches distribute palm branches to the congregation on Palm Sunday for customs. These rites include reciting the story of Christ's entry into Jerusalem, carrying and waving palm branches in processions, blessing the palms, chanting traditional hymns, and making small crosses with palm branches. In Russia, palm branches were replaced by pussy willow, which is why the holiday was called Palm Sunday.
Palm Sunday also marks the beginning of Holy Week, a solemn week dedicated to the last days of Jesus' life. Holy Week ends on Easter Sunday; Easter is the most important holiday in Christianity.
Palm Sunday
The date of the first Palm Sunday celebration is unknown. A detailed description of the celebration of the palm procession was recorded as early as the 4th century in Jerusalem. The ceremony was introduced in the West much later, in the 9th century.
Palm Sunday in the temple.
Why are palm branches used on Palm Sunday?
Palm branches are part of Christian worship on Palm Sunday, or Holy Sunday, as it is sometimes called. This event commemorates Jesus Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, as predicted by the prophet Zechariah.
The Bible tells us that people cut branches from palms, laid them in the way of Jesus, and waved them in the air. They hailed Jesus not as a spiritual Messiah who would take on the sins of the world, but as a potential political leader who would overthrow the Romans.