Palm Sunday: What do Christians celebrate?

On Palm Sunday, Christians around the world celebrate the day Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem days before his crucifixion.

To this end, crowds left palm fronds and clothing in his path as a sign of honour.

Every year, millions of Christians observe Palm Sunday by attending church service and carrying palms of their own.

What you need to know about Palm Sunday
It is celebrated on the last Sunday of Lent and first day of Holy Week in Christian churches.

It characteristically falls on the Sunday before Easter.

All major Christian churches, including Roman Catholic and Protestant celebrate Palm Sunday.

In Orthodox churches, which follow the Julian calender, Palm Sunday is celebrated later.

Why is the day important to Christians?
The day symbolizes Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, the start of the march to his death on a wooden cross.

It’s otherwise know as Passion Sunday in honor of his suffering and death before his resurrection.

How it is celebrated
The day is mostly celebrated with processions and distribution of blessed palm leaves.

The palms, in some churches, are saved and burned into ashes to be used on Ash Wednesday of the next year. Meanwhile, some Christians fold the palm fronds into crosses and have them kept in their homes.