ENTRANCE INTO HOLY WEEK

 

                                                                Solomon Raj- India         

Jesus traveled to Jerusalem knowing that this journey would end in His sacrificial death on the cross. As He entered the city, He sent two disciples ahead to the village of Bethphage to look for an unbroken colt saying to them:

"Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say, 'The Lord needs it.'" (Luke 19:29-31). The men then brought the colt to Jesus and placed their cloaks on its back. As Jesus sat on the young donkey, He slowly made His humble entrance into Jerusalem with  the  people greeting Him, waving palm branches and covering His path with them. Some  even threw down their cloaks on the path as an act of homage and submission. The crowds praised Jesus enthusiastically because they believed He was the Messiah who would overthrow Rome.

The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!" (Matthew 21:9)

The shouts of "Hosanna" meant "save now," and the palm branches symbolized goodness and victory.

Immediately following this acknowledgment of His Kingship, Jesus began His journey to the cross.

Since palms aren’t typical of every climate in the world, many believers around the world have replaced palms with other types of tree leaves.

Pussy willows are a lot easier to find in Latvia than palms, so the day is known as Pussy Willow Sunday. Willow branches are a big part of the celebration in Bulgaria along with flowers. Palm Sunday is more often called Flower Day because of all the springtime blooms.

Palm trees don’t grow in Poland so people make artificial palm leaves, decorating them with tissue paper flowers and ribbons. Some of these fake palms can be higher than 30 metres and need multiple people to carry them! There are competitions for the best ones.

In southern Wales and nearby towns  of England, 'Sul y Blodau' or 'Flowering Sunday' is a grave decoration tradition commonly observed on Palm Sunday, although historically Flowering Sunday grave decoration was also observed on other days as well. Today, the names Palm Sunday and Flowering Sunday are used interchangeably in those regions. 

In India, flowers are scattered around the sanctuary at Mass while churchgoers listen to the gospel. The priests bless the palms and later give them to the people. Indians trace this custom back to Hindu tradition in which flowers are utilized for festive occasions.

In the Philippines  worshipers on Palm Sunday still practice Spanish-influenced traditions and customs, one of which is to bring their woven palm leaves, which the priest blesses. Some also use statues or the priest to lead a procession into the church to reenact Jesus’ entrance, while children with angel costumes sing.

Celebrating Palm Sunday in Rome and around Italy consists of a long ceremony and a  huge crowd of people (outside of pandemics). In Rome, it starts at 9:30 am where the Pope goes to St. Peter’s Square to start Palm Sunday Mass. He also participates in the blessing and procession of palms. The entire ceremony usually last for around 3 hours.

On a national level, Italians either use palms or olive branches for their celebrations, since olive trees are much more common in their climate.

In many parts of the world special foods are prepared on this day.

In Greece, Lenten fast is broken with a fish dinner, featuring bakaliaros or salt cod. In some parts of Italy, homemade fettuccini pasta topped with tomato sauce, bread crumbs and chopped nuts is the customary Palm Sunday dish.

In Great Britain, traditional foods served on Palm Sunday include fig pudding because Jesus is said to have eaten figs on his entry into the city of Jerusalem. In other areas of the UK, pax cakes - along with best wishes for peace and brotherhood - are given out to congregations after Palm Sunday services in a custom said to date back to the 1500's.

In Wales, the day is known as Sul y Blodau or Flowering Sunday because of the association with the flowering of the fig tree. Making split pea soup is another tradition still observed in Northern England and Scotland, derived from the ancient practice of wearing a hard pea in the shoe as penance during Lent.

More modern interpretations of appropriate foods to be eaten on Palm Sunday include hearts of palm featured in salads and side dishes to observe the day. 

For us it has always been my Mother’s date bars- as to the rest, whatever we have at hand.

     Image:  Anthony Falbo- USA