The Triumphant Entry
What is Palm Sunday?
Palm Sunday is the start of the Holy Week during the Lenten period. It doesn't have a fixed date, but it always occurs the Sunday before Easter. It celebrates the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem.
History of Palm Sunday
The palm carried by the people is used to signify the palm scattered by people in front of Jesus Christ on his way to Jerusalem. Although, Palm fronds are not used sometimes due to climatic constraints, but instead, other local trees such as willow, yew or box are used.
It takes place the week before Easter celebrations because according to the liturgical gospels, Jesus' entry into Jerusalem Salem occurred about a week before his resurrection.
In those days, it was considered customary to cover the path of a person held in high honor. This was the reason people put their robes also on his path. The palm branch is also very symbolic. In Greco-Roman culture, the palm signifies victory and triumph and also in the ancient Egyptian religion, the palm branch was used during funerals and it signified eternal life. The fact that Jesus Christ rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and not a horse also has a meaning. In those days, a king would ride into a town on a horse to signify work, while a king riding in on a donkey meant that he came in peace. Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey meant that he was establishing himself as a ruler or in essence, a Prince of Peace.
The palms themselves are really important. They are blessed and the ones made into religious icons are taken home as a symbol of blessing while the remnants are burnt the following year to get the ash used on Ash Wednesday.
Although, there are several cultures around the world on Palm Sunday. In Finland, children dress up as Easter witches, knock on doors and exchange palm fronds for coins, in Ethiopia, it is called Hosanna and people make the palm fronds into jewelry and in Bulgaria, it is known as Flower's Day, and people bearing flower names celebrate their name day. There are several other examples.
Palm Sunday is a very important day that signifies victory and Jesus' celebration, even in the face of his death.
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