Why Palm Leaves Are Used on Palm Sunday
Among the ancient Israelites, palm branches were waved in processions and laid in the path of heroes as a sign of joy. In ancient Greece and Rome, palm branches were presented to the winners of athletic competitions as a symbol of their victories.
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Origins
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In 142 BC, when Simon Maccabaeus liberated Jerusalem from the Greeks, a procession escorted him into the city "with praise and palm branches." (1 Maccabees 13:51)
The First Palm Sunday
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According to the Gospel of John, as Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem five days before his crucifixion, the inhabitants "took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him." (John 12:13).
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The Martyrs
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The early church adopted the palm as a symbol of a martyr. Just as a Greek or Roman athlete showed great endurance during his training to win a competition, the Christian martyr endured prison, torture and death to win the glory of heaven.
Palm Sunday Today
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On Palm Sunday, many Christian denominations commemorate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem by distributing palms to their congregations.
Fun Fact
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Every year artisans of the towns of Sanremo and Bordighera in northern Italy weave 2,000 parmureli, elaborate, three-foot-high palm staffs, for the papal Palm Sunday Mass in Rome.
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