- Sunday before Easter
- Starts Holy Week
- Palm leaves blessed and carried
Where it began
All four Gospels tell how Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Crowds spread their cloaks and branches on the road and called out Hosanna.
Pilgrims in Jerusalem were holding a procession with branches by the 4th century, as a traveller named Egeria recorded. The custom later spread across the Christian world.
How it grew over time
4th century
Pilgrims in Jerusalem walk down the Mount of Olives with branches.
Medieval period
Palm processions spread through Europe, using olive, willow or yew where palms do not grow.
Later centuries
Blessed palms are kept at home and folded into crosses.
Today
Churches worldwide begin Holy Week with palm processions.
How it is celebrated in different places
Kerala
Called Oshana Sunday, churches give out blessed palm leaves for the procession.
Jerusalem
Pilgrims walk from the Mount of Olives into the old city.
Philippines
People bring woven palm fronds called palaspas to be blessed.
Eastern Europe
Pussy willow branches take the place of palms.
Palm Sunday today
Churches bless palm leaves and walk in procession singing hymns. The service then turns to the story of the Passion, leading into the solemn days of Holy Week.
