Palm Sunday is a Christian movable feast celebrated on the Sunday before Easter, marking the beginning of Holy Week. It commemorates Jesus Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event recorded in all four Gospels, where Jesus rode into the city on a donkey while crowds welcomed him by waving palm branches and laying cloaks on the road, symbolizing honor and peace
. This day is significant because it starts the final week of Lent and leads into the solemn observances of Holy Week, which culminate in Easter, celebrating Jesus's resurrection. The palm branches used in celebrations represent the ones the crowd scattered before Jesus, symbolizing victory and peace. These palms are often blessed by clergy and distributed to congregants, who may weave them into crosses or keep them as devotional items. The palms from the previous year are traditionally burned to create ashes for Ash Wednesday, marking the start of Lent
. Palm Sunday services typically include a procession with palms, the reading of the Passion of Christ (the story of his suffering and death), and special prayers. The use of a donkey instead of a horse emphasizes Jesus's humble arrival as a peaceful king rather than a conquering warrior
. In summary, Palm Sunday is a key Christian observance that honors Jesus's entry into Jerusalem and initiates the sacred Holy Week leading to Easter
