Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter. It commemorates the solemn and joyful entrance of our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, just a few days before His Passion.
According to the Gospels (Matthew 21:1–11; Mark 11:1–10; Luke 19:28–40; John 12:12–19), Jesus entered the Holy City riding on a donkey — fulfilling the prophecy of Book of Zechariah 9:9:
“Behold, your King comes to you… humble and riding on a donkey.”
The people spread their cloaks on the road and waved palm branches, crying out:
“Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Palm branches in the ancient world symbolized victory, triumph, and kingship. The crowd recognized Jesus as the Messiah — though they did not yet understand that His kingship would be revealed through the Cross.
Palm Sunday therefore has two tones:
✨ Joyful triumph
✝️ The shadow of the Passion
In the Eastern Churches, this feast is also called the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.
In places like Ukraine, Canada, Poland, and other northern countries, palm trees do not grow naturally. So the faithful adopted a local spring branch — the pussy willow.
In the Ukrainian tradition, it is called Вербна Неділя (Verbna Nedilia) — “Willow Sunday.”
The pussy willow became the substitute for palms because:
🌱 It is one of the first trees to bloom in early spring.
🌿 It symbolizes new life and resurrection.
🌎 The Church inculturates — using what nature provides locally.
After blessing the willows in church, people take them home and place them near icons. Traditionally, family members gently tap each other with the blessed willow branches and say:
“Не я б’ю — верба б’є,
За тиждень Великдень!”
(“It is not I who strike — the willow strikes;
In a week it is Easter!”)
This playful gesture reminds us that:
Spring is coming.
Resurrection is near.
We must spiritually awaken.
Palm (or Willow) Sunday asks us a serious question:
The same crowd that shouted “Hosanna!” on Sunday would cry “Crucify Him!” on Friday.
So the Church asks:
Do I welcome Christ only when He comforts me?
Or do I remain faithful when the Cross appears?
As a fisherman would say, Father — sometimes the lake is calm and full of light, and sometimes the storm rises. Palm Sunday teaches us to stay in the boat with Christ — even when Jerusalem turns dark.
