Definition of Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is a festival integrated into Holy Week in Christianity. During this day the solemn acts that make up Holy Week begin.

Symbols and conception

The liturgical ceremonies of Palm Sunday are the blessing of the palms, the procession and the mass. During mass the priest recalls the story of the passion of Jesus Christ. Believers who are part of this ceremony should wear on their hands palm branches of olive trees or other trees. At the same time, during the procession songs of praise are sung and the priests must lead the procession and guide the faithful.

The blessing of the bouquets or palms takes place before the procession. Among Christians it is customary to keep blessed bouquets at home, since they symbolize the Easter victory of Jesus Christ.

This holiday commemorates the entry of Jesus Christ into the temple of Jerusalem on the back of a donkey and it is remembered that the people hailed him as the authentic Messiah.

Palm Sunday in the context of Holy Week

During Holy Week the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are celebrated. It must be borne in mind that when Jesus Christ traveled to Jerusalem for the last time he met with faithful followers but also with his detractors who considered him a traitor. Jesus Christ entered the city riding on a donkey and the crowd acclaimed him as savior and descendant of the King David.

Christianity remembers this biblical episode and during Mass the priest wears red, which symbolizes the blood shed by Jesus Christ to save men.

After Palm Sunday, four more celebrations come:

-Firstly, on Holy Thursday the episode of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples is remembered and, at the same time, the institution of the Eucharist.

- The next day takes place on Good Friday and during this working day the Passion of Jesus Christ is commemorated with the acts of the Via Crucis.

- Holy Saturday is a day of waiting, because during that day Jesus Christ remained in the tomb and the Easter vigil is the most significant liturgical act of this day.

- Thursday, Friday and Holy Saturday are known as the Easter Triduum.

- Finally, on Easter Sunday it is celebrated that Jesus Christ came back to life.

On synthesisIn Holy Week, Christians remember the last six days of the earthly life of Jesus Christ. For Christians the celebration of Holy Week is a reason to renew her faith and consolidate her personal commitment.

Photo: Fotolia - t0m15

Palm Sunday themes