PALM SUNDAY, the Sunday before Easter, so called from the custom, still observed in the Roman Catholic Church, of blessing palm branches and carrying them in procession in com memoration of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. In the Western Church, Palm Sunday is counted as the first day of Holy Week, and its ceremonies usher in the series of services, culminat ing in those of Good Friday, which commemorate the Passion.
The ceremonies on Palm Sunday as celebrated now in the Roman Catholic Church are divided into : The solemn blessing of the palms, (2) the procession, (3) the mass.
In the Orthodox Eastern Church Palm Sunday (i Kvpccuci goprii Tc2n) Oatun", goprii gaiockopos, or i (3aiockopos) is not included in Holy Week, but is regarded as a joyous festival commem orating Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. There is no longer a procession; but the palms (in Russia willow twigs) are blessed, and are held by the worshippers during the service.
Of the reformed churches, the Church of England alone in cludes Palm Sunday in the Holy Week celebrations. The blessing of the palms and the procession were, however, abolished at the Reformation, and the name "Palm Sunday," though it survives popularly, is not mentioned in the Book of Common Prayer.