Most Christians will commemorate Palm Sunday today, marking the beginning of the most holy week on their liturgical calendar.
Holy Week, which leads to Easter, is a time when Christians participate in a variety of religious activities and services as they reflect on the final week of Jesus’ life and prepare for the joy of his resurrection. This year, Christians in both eastern and western traditions will celebrate Easter on April 20.
Palm Sunday services typically include the blessing and waving of palm branches as a way of recalling the biblical account of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem for Passover. According to the four gospels, as Jesus rode in on a donkey, cheering crowds waved palms and hailed him as the long awaited Messiah.
As Holy Week continues, the focus will shift to Jesus’ crucifixion and death and ultimately to his resurrection on Easter. Christians believe that Jesus died to atone for the sin of the entire world; that he conquered death via his resurrection on the third day; and that the kingdom of heaven is now open to all who believe.
