Palm Sunday

Here in the State we started our day by going to church today and church server gave each of us a stick of palm. The priest blessed it with holy water before the mass starts. In many Christian churches, Palm Sunday is marked by the distribution of palm leaves (often tied into crosses) to the assembled worshipers. The difficulty of procuring palms for that day's ceremonies in unfavorable climates for palms led to the substitution of boughs of box, yew, willow or other native trees. The Sunday was often designated by the names of these trees, as Yew Sunday or by the general term Branch Sunday.


Back in the In the Philippines, there are some places where a re-enactment of Jesus' triumphal entry occurs. The Catholic priest rides a horse and is surrounded by the congregation, bearing palms. Sometimes women spread large cloths or aprons along the procession route.

Palm branches, called palaspas, are taken home after being blessed in the Mass and are hung beside, on or above doorways and windows in front of their house. Although the real objective of placing the leaves in front of houses is to welcome Jesus Christ, some Filipinos say that the palm leaves turn away evil spirits. Happy Sunday everyone and more blessing to all of us.