How Many Days Until Palm Sunday?
Palm Sunday 2026 is on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
About Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday in some traditions, is a Christian feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. It commemorates Jesus Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four canonical Gospels. The day marks the beginning of Holy Week, the final week of Lent, leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection.
Significance: Triumphal Entry & Foreshadowing
Arrival of the King
Jesus' entry, riding on a donkey, fulfilled Old Testament prophecy (Zechariah 9:9) and was seen by followers as the arrival of the Messiah, the King.
Public Acclamation
Crowds welcomed Jesus by waving palm branches and laying them, along with cloaks, in his path, shouting "Hosanna!" – a cry for salvation and praise.
Beginning of the Passion
Despite the celebration, Palm Sunday marks the start of Jesus' journey towards suffering and death, contrasting the crowd's praise with the events to come.
Start of Holy Week
It inaugurates the most solemn week in the Christian liturgical year, focusing intensely on the final days of Jesus' earthly life.
The Symbolism of the Palms
Palm branches are central to the observance of Palm Sunday and carry rich symbolism:
- Victory and Triumph: In Greco-Roman culture, palm branches were symbols of victory, triumph, peace, and eternal life. Waving them welcomed Jesus as a victorious king.
- Jewish Tradition: Palms were used during joyous Jewish festivals like Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles), associated with celebration and deliverance.
- Martyrdom and Eternal Life: In later Christian tradition, palms also came to symbolize the victory of martyrs over death.
- Modern Use: Churches distribute blessed palm branches (or substitutes like olive or willow branches in regions where palms are scarce) to the congregation during Palm Sunday services.
- Connection to Ash Wednesday: These blessed palms are often saved and later burned to create the ashes used for the following year's Ash Wednesday services, linking the beginning and end of the Lenten cycle symbolically.
How Palm Sunday is Observed
Blessing & Distribution of Palms
Services typically begin with the blessing of palm branches, which are then distributed to the congregation.
Processions
Many churches hold processions, either outside or inside the church, where participants carry palms and sing hymns, reenacting Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.
Reading of the Passion
A distinctive feature is the reading (often lengthy and sometimes involving multiple readers or the congregation) of the Passion narrative – the story of Jesus' suffering and death.
Hymns and Music
Music often includes triumphant hymns like "All Glory, Laud, and Honor" alongside more somber pieces reflecting the upcoming Passion.
Liturgical Color
The liturgical color is often red (symbolizing martyrdom and royalty) or violet/purple (reflecting the Lenten season).
Keeping the Palms
Many faithful take the blessed palms home, often folding them into crosses or displaying them as devotional objects.
Palm Sunday: Kicking Off Holy Week
Palm Sunday serves as the gateway into Holy Week, setting the stage for the profound events that follow. It holds a unique tension between celebration and solemnity:
Joyful Welcome
Remembering the crowds' hopeful reception of Jesus as King.
Impending Sorrow
Anticipating the betrayal, suffering, and death that Jesus would face in the coming days.
Call to Follow
Inviting believers to follow Christ not just in triumph but also through suffering towards resurrection.
The shift in tone, often marked by the transition from the procession to the reading of the Passion, prepares the faithful for the emotional and spiritual journey of Holy Week.