Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is the Sunday preceding Easter. It is so called in memory of Jesus Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem, when the multitude strewed the way with palm branches. The event is mentioned in each of the four canonical Gospels.

Palm Sunday in East Timor

The waving of palm branches, the Palestinian equivalent of a ticker-tape welcome, was also something done to celebrate the arrival of an important person. Despite this rapturous reception, many who shouted “Hosanna” would calling for Jesus to be crucified when He stood on trial only a few days later. Why this change? Because they came to realize that Jesus was not the kind of Messiah they had been expecting. The crowd were looking for a warrior king who would lead them into battle against their Roman oppressors. They had missed the clue in Jesus’ entry – his arrival on a donkey rather than a war horse. He was coming in peace to save them from their sins, not to fight against the Romans. Zechariah said he will come "gentle" and riding on a donkey. 

Palm Sunday marks the first day of Holy Week, the last week of the Christian solemn season of Lent that precedes the arrival of Eastertide. 

In most liturgical churches, Palm Sunday is celebrated by the blessing and distribution of palm branches (or the branches of other native trees), representing the palm branches which the crowd scattered in front of Christ as he rode into Jerusalem. 

In medieval England, palms were often made from box, willow, and yew.