PALM SUNDAY
Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter and it is the beginning of Holy Week. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four canonical Gospels. It is also known as Branch, Sunday, Box Sunday, Yew Sunday, Olive Sunday, Willow Sunday, Flowers' Sunday, Pussy Willow Sunday, or Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. In many Christian churches, Palm Sunday is marked by the distribution of blessed palm leaves (often tied into crosses) to the assembled worshipers. In areas where Plams are not available, other tree leaves are given (olive, box, willow, yew), and the day is either called Branch Sunday or named after the tree given. In the Orthodox Church, the Armenian Apostolic Church, and the Eastern Catholic Churches which follow the Byzantine Rite, Palm Sunday is proceeded by and shares litergy with Lazarus Saturday.
PALM SUNDAY CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD
In Hoegaarden, Belgium, A group of Twelve Apostles carries a wooden statue of Christ around the town, while children go door to door exchanging palms (or other branches) for coins. In Bulgaria, Palm Sunday is known as Tsvetnitsa (tsvete is flower) or Vrabnitsa (varba is willow). In Finland, it is popular for children to dress up as Easter witches and go door to door in neighborhoods and trade palms (or other branches) for coins and candy. In Italy, palm or olive branches are placed at the entrance of houses (usually above the door) to last until the next Palm Sunday (next year). In Latvia, Palm Sunday is called "Pussy Willow Sunday", and pussy willows are blessed and distributed to the faithful. In Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria, Palm Sunday is known as Shaa'nineh in Arabic. A statue of Christ on the donkey or the local priest mounted on horse process towards the local church with the church goesrs and their palms. In Romania and Moldova, Palm Sunday is known as Duminica Floriilor or simply Florii (Flowers' Sunday).
A PALM SUNDAY JOKE
Q: Mom's have Mother's Day, Father's have Father's Day, Couples have Valentines Day, What do single guys have? A: Palm Sunday.