Palm Sunday: Fact to be Known

Palm Sunday

Before the rejoicing, Christians remember the fact that Jesus wascrucified, died and was buried.Palm Sunday marks the moment when the Son of God entered Jerusalem intriumph riding on the back of a donkey while crowds, who would later callfor him to be killed, paid homage to him.Christians believe it was a week before his death and resurrection.When is Palm Sunday 2017?Palm Sunday, which falls on April 9 this year, is the first day of HolyWeek and the most solemn time in the Christian calendar.So how does Palm Sunday get its name?The name Palm Sunday comes from the palm branches that people laid down inJesus' path as he rode into Jerusalem on the donkey.Palm branches are a widely recognised symbol of peace and victory, and inBiblical times were often thrown before the feet of a conquering hero in homage. When Jesus arrived in the Holy City, the Gospel writers said thecrowds lay palm branches and clothes at his feet to honour him.It had been predicted in the Old Testament that people would recognise theMessiah when he rode into the city, and they would then lay palms at hisfeet.Now during Palm Sunday Mass, palms are distributed to parishioners whocarry them in a ritual procession into church. The palms are blessed withholy water. People are now given small crosses, made of palms, to take homewith them.Later these are burnt to create the ashes that are put on people's heads on AshWednesday the city, he sent two disciples ahead to the village ofBethphage to look for an unbroken colt. They then brought it to Jesus, laytheir cloaks on its back so Jesus could ride it into Jerusalem.In some traditions, a donkey forms part of the Palm Sunday parade.The crowds shouted Hosanna meaning 'save now' as they believed Jesus wasgoing to save them.What do you eat on Palm Sunday?Pax cakes, which are believed to have originated in Herefordshire, wereonce handed out by churches after the service on Palm Sunday.More like biscuits than cakes, they were generally stampedwith the imageof a lamb and a flag – the symbol of Jesus, the “Lamb of God – and weremeant to symbolise peace and goodwill. (The word "pax", in Latin, meanspeace).Pax cakes are more like biscuits than cakes and the practice is believed todate back to the Middle Ages, when the little biscuits were handed out witha glass of beer.Peas or carlings were traditionally consumed on Palm Sunday particularly innorthern England and Scotland, so it became known as Carling Sunday (orCar-Sunday in Scotland). Recipes varied according to region, includingPease Porridge, or split pea soup.Palm Sunday is also known as Fig Sunday because tradition maintains thatJesus cursed a fig tree that would not bear fruit, and ate figs after hisentry into Jerusalem. Dried figs are often eaten on the day.