Regular churchgoers know certain services stand out during the liturgical year: Easter, Christmas and the upcoming celebration. Palm Sunday, or Passion Sunday, is this Sunday, March 28. The concept behind the church holiday remains the same year after year except, of course, in 2020 when many churches were closed due to the pandemic. To prepare you for this Sunday, here’s a primer on the celebration.

Palm Sunday is the sixth Sunday of Lent and the official start of Holy Week. During the service, palm branches are distributed to parishioners as they commemorate Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem, which took place before the crucifixion and resurrection.

In the story of John, people in the streets graciously met Jesus because they believed he would overthrow Rome. They greeted him by waving palms and laying them as a path. Palm Sunday is celebrated in several churches, including Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Moravian, Reformed Christian and Roman Catholic.

It’s important to remember that the palm branches from Palm Sunday are sacramental, and therefore, cannot be thrown away after the service. Many churches will collect them to be burned on Shrove Tuesday of the following year and used as the following day’s Ash Wednesday services.

Others keep their palm as a reminder of Jesus’s triumphant ride into Jerusalem. They are commonly displayed near a crucifix or tucked into a bible. If you are looking for a more unique way to use your palm, you’ll want to see these beautiful craft ideas.

Do you like to keep your palm after Passion Sunday Service? If so, let us know how you use it in the comments below.

Happy Palm Sunday from Lions Pride!