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Palm Sunday in Canada

Quick Facts

Palm Sunday in Canada celebrates Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. It is also the Sunday before Easter Sunday.

Name

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday 2012

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Palm Sunday 2013

Sunday, March 24, 2013
List of dates for other years

Many Christians in Canada remember Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week. This day is also on the Sunday before Easter Sunday.

Palm Cross

Many churches offer their congregation with blessed palm leaves on Palm Sunday. They sometimes come in the shape of a cross. ©iStockphoto.com/sterlsev

What do people do?

Many Christian churches hold special services on Palm Sunday where congregation members receive blessed palm leaves, which symbolize victory and joy. Palm Sunday palms are usually kept and used to make the Ash Wednesday ashes for the next year. Service readings focus on the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and the events in his life that took place, including his suffering, prior to his death on the cross.

Churches may involve children by blessing them, including children’s songs and hymns, or having special Sunday school sessions. Some people within the Catholic community and other Christian denominations devote their time learning about the story of Jesus Christ’s suffering in the lead up to his death and resurrection. Some university chapel choirs sing special songs on Palm Sunday.

Public life

Palm Sunday is not a federal holiday in Canada. However, it is held on a Sunday, which is a non-school day and non-working day for many Canadians.

Background

Palm Sunday is observed among many Christian churches as part of Holy Week in Canada. It is the last Sunday during the Lenten period, as well as the Sunday before Easter Sunday. Palm Sunday events and traditions have been observed in Canada for many years. Newspaper articles as far back as the late 19th century described Palm Sunday observations such as the blessing of palms at church services in cities such as Winnipeg, in Manitoba.

About Palm Sunday in other countries

Read more about Palm Sunday.

Palm Sunday Observances

WeekdayDateYearNameHoliday typeWhere it is observed
SunMar 301980Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 121981Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 41982Palm SundayChristian 
SunMar 271983Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 151984Palm SundayChristian 
SunMar 311985Palm SundayChristian 
SunMar 231986Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 121987Palm SundayChristian 
SunMar 271988Palm SundayChristian 
SunMar 191989Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 81990Palm SundayChristian 
SunMar 241991Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 121992Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 41993Palm SundayChristian 
SunMar 271994Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 91995Palm SundayChristian 
SunMar 311996Palm SundayChristian 
SunMar 231997Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 51998Palm SundayChristian 
SunMar 281999Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 162000Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 82001Palm SundayChristian 
SunMar 242002Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 132003Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 42004Palm SundayChristian 
SunMar 202005Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 92006Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 12007Palm SundayChristian 
SunMar 162008Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 52009Palm SundayChristian 
SunMar 282010Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 172011Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 12012Palm SundayChristian 
SunMar 242013Palm SundayChristian 
SunApr 132014Palm SundayChristian 
SunMar 292015Palm SundayChristian 

Related holidays

Other holidays in April 2012 in Canada

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