Palm Sunday

“Now the Son of Man journeys
to the city of cities.”
(from Hymn 15)

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, when the readings tell of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

In the days following Palm Sunday, the crowd’s joyful welcome of Christ turns, and they begin to call for his death. The readings in Holy Week recall the Last Supper, Jesus’s arrest and trial, and his death on the cross.

As Jesus entered Jerusalem, the people threw palm branches at his feet. For this reason, it is customary to either decorate the church with them and other leaves or to carry them in procession. In northern countries, the traditional equivalent of palms is pussy willows.