Palm Sunday 2023- First Day of the Holy Week of Christians

Every year, Palm Sunday is observed on Sunday that fall right before Easter. The date for Palm Sunday varies each year depending on when Easter is to be observed. Palm Sunday is a movable Christian feast that commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem before he was betrayed and crucified. This day also marks the first day of the Holy Week and the last week of the season of Lent. Palm Sunday is associated with the blessing and distribution of palm branches blessed by priests to the devotees. In some traditions, the branches of other native trees can be distributed as well. Complete details related to Palm Sunday 2023 like its celebration, significance, traditions, etc have been provided in this article.

Palm Sunday Upcoming Events

Below mentioned are the upcoming dates for Palm Sunday for the upcoming 5 years.

Palm Sunday 2023 Overview

Date of Palm Sunday

The observance of Palm Sunday depends on Easter which itself is determined by the first full moon that happens on or after the March equinox (March 21). Since the date of Easter Sunday changes every year, so does the date for Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday takes place seven days before Easter and as the name suggests it always falls on a Sunday. In 2023, Easter will fall on Sunday, 9 April and Palm Sunday date will be observed on Sunday, April 2.

Significance of Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Holy Week for Christians which concludes with the observance of Easter. The day is a reminder of welcoming Jesus in Jerusalem and signifies His entry into the heart of devotees and their willingness to follow the path shown by Christ. Palm Sunday is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the liturgical year.

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Palm Sunday History

The first-ever celebration of Palm Sunday can be traced back to the time when Jesus Christ entered the land of Jerusalem on his donkey. To welcome Him into the Biblical land, people started laying palm leaves in His path and started calling Him a savior. The palm leaves were a symbol of victory and an understanding of peace, blessings, and faith between Jesus and the people of Jerusalem. Thus, the celebration of Palm Sunday came into existence. The day is also known as Passion Sunday.

Celebration & Tradition of Palm Sunday

As it is clear from the name, palm leaves play an important role in the celebration of Palm Sunday. Different groups might follow different traditions on the day but in any form, the observance of the day always includes the use of palm leaves. The celebration of Palm Sunday begins one day before the holiday, called Lazarus Saturday when believers start preparing palm fronds by knotting them into crosses. On the day of Palm Sunday, devotees visit churches where they receive fresh palm leaves blessed by priests. Service is also performed on this day where the priest or pastor reads the triumphant story of Jesus Christ.

At many places, Palm Sunday processions take place in which palm leaves along with six statues are carried on sticks or frames by the devotees and followed by a marching band. In some countries, the palm leaves are used to create crucifixes, rings, and other ornaments whereas, in other places, the palm leaves are placed at house entrances only to be replaced on the next Palm Sunday. There is also a tradition of using palm leaves to produce ashes used for Ash Wednesday the following year. It is also common for children to dress up as Easter witches and go from door to door for coins and candies, very much like Halloween.

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Frequently Asked Questions