Palm Sunday in Canada

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.

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

©iStockphoto.com/SondraP

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

Palm Sunday Observances

Related holidays

• Maundy Thursday ―Thursday, March 28, 2013
• Good Friday ―Friday, March 29, 2013
• Holy Saturday ―Saturday, March 30, 2013
• Easter Sunday ―Sunday, March 31, 2013
• Easter Monday ―Monday, April 1, 2013

Other holidays in March 2013 in Canada

• St David's Day ―Friday, March 1, 2013
• Daylight Saving Time starts ―Sunday, March 10, 2013
• Commonwealth Day ―Monday, March 11, 2013
• St. Patrick's Day ―Sunday, March 17, 2013
• St. Patrick's Day ―Monday, March 18, 2013
• March equinox ―Wednesday, March 20, 2013
• First day of Passover ―Tuesday, March 26, 2013
• Maundy Thursday ―Thursday, March 28, 2013
• Good Friday ―Friday, March 29, 2013
• Holy Saturday ―Saturday, March 30, 2013
• Easter Sunday ―Sunday, March 31, 2013