Palm Sunday is observed on the Sunday before Easter every year. This year Palm Sunday is on Sunday, April 2nd for the Catholic Church and most Protestant Churches in the USA, and in other Western Countries. Both, Catholic and Protestant Churches follow The Gregorian calendar to determine their Church Holy Days.
The Orthodox Christians follows a different church calendar, called the Julian Calendar. Orthodox and some European Protestants will celebrate it on April 9th instead of April 2nd... Why the difference... ??? Because Eastern Orthodox and some Eastern European Protestants did not want to take any direction from the Catholic Pope, so they refused to adopt to the new calendar.
Catholic Churches distribute palm branches to congregations during Palm Sunday Mass. The liturgies, are representing the palm branches scattered before Christ by the people of Jerusalem upon his entry into the city.
Approximately 2,023 years ago, people of Jerusalem heard of the miracles Jesus had performed. So, when he arrived at the city’s entrance on the back of a young donkey, they honored him by shouting praises and spreading palm branches before him. As a result, the day of this entry into Jerusalem became known as “Palm Sunday.” Churches and Christian homes are filled with palm branches to honor Christ. People celebrate but with the awareness that sadness is soon to come." "Moreover, masses are held to deliver teachings of the works of Jesus. People learn all about his works on Earth, the miracles he performed, and the story of Easter. Easter is the period of Christ’s death — when he was killed, buried, resurrected, and became a true martyr. It has been celebrated annually all over the world as a way to remember and honor the sacrifices of Christ."
Every year the Catholic Church observes Palm (Passion) Sunday by reading the Scriptures from the Bible that reflect upon the Passion of Christ. Palm branches are blessed and processions take place. The Faithful participate and after Mass they take the Blessed Palm Branches Home and place them near a crucifix to remind them of the Passion of Jesus Christ.
FOOTNOTE:
"In 1582 The Catholic Pope, Gregory XIII, slowly updated the Catholic Church Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar."
The Gregorian Calendar was followed by "The Protestant German states in 1699, Great Britain and its colonies in 1752, Sweden in 1753, Japan in 1873, China in 1912, the Soviet socialist republics in 1918, and Greece in 1923."
The "Julian Reckoning" now know as the Gregorian Calendar... corrected the solar year. It is comprised of 365 1/4 days, and thus “leap day, February 29th” was created... Leap Day February 29th only occurs every four years. It was intended to maintain correspondence between the calendar and the seasons.
Please note that Many Eastern Orthodox Churches and some others still use the Julian calendar for their religious Holy Days and Holidays." Site Reference: Britannica.com
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Many blessings...
just, Paige St. James
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