Easter 2024: What is Palm Sunday?

In the Roman Catholic Church Palm Sunday Mass is led by the Pope

Palm Sunday is an important date in the calendar for those who follow the Christian faith.

Churches and cathedrals hold special Palm Sunday services to mark the occasion.

But what is Palm Sunday, and how is it celebrated?

Thousands of people usually gather outside St Peter's Basilica in Rome every year for Palm Sunday mass

What is Palm Sunday all about?

Palm Sunday is a special day for many Christians. It marks the start of something called Holy Week and it always falls on the Sunday before Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

It also marks the last week of Lent, which is a time when lots of people give up something they love for 40 days.

Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem just days before his death. The Bible, which is the book Christians read, says Jesus rode into the city on a donkey. People waved palm leaves and cheered him.

This painting from the 19th Century shows Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey

There are many different things Christians do on Palm Sunday to celebrate.

One of the most common traditions is for worshippers to be given small crosses made from palm leaves. This serves as an important reminder of Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem and his death soon after.

Palm crosses, like these ones, are burned to make ash, which can be used in Ash Wednesday services

Some Christians keep the crosses in their homes, but others burn them and save the ashes to use on Ash Wednesday the following year.

Palm Sunday also gives Christians the chance to reflect on the final week of Jesus' life before they celebrate Easter.