The Biblical story is full of symbolism and meaning. In the Gospels, this event takes place about one week before the Resurrection. The story tells of Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalem, and the people spreading their cloaks and small palm branches on the path before him. The donkey is a reference to Zechariah’s prophecy about the King of Zion (Israel) coming upon a donkey. It is also a symbol of peace. In the East, a king would ride a horse into the city in times of war and a donkey in times of peace. Jesus’ use of the donkey indicates his arrival as the Prince of Peace. In the Near East, it was customary to cover the path of someone thought worthy of high honor. In Greco-Roman culture, the palm branch was a symbol of triumph and victory. Because of this, Jesus’ entry came to be viewed as analogous to a Roman general’s triumph procession.
Different Palm Sunday traditions have arisen around the world. In Italy, palms are hung above the house entrances. Because of the size of the palms, they are usually braided into smaller shapes before being hung. In the Philippines, palms are also braided, but instead of small shapes they are braided into large fans and elaborate figures which are carried to Mass for blessing. In colder places where palms are not readily available in the early spring, other plants are substituted. The most common is the pussy willow, but yew and dwarf spruce are also used. In many of these countries, these branches are decorated with ribbons and flowers and contests are often held to see who can make the largest “palm.”