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Palm Sunday 2025 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.

Is Palm Sunday a Public Holiday?

Palm Sunday is not a public holiday. It falls on Sunday, April 13, 2025 and most businesses follow regular Sunday opening hours in Canada.

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/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

Read more about Palm Sunday.

Palm Sunday Observances

YearWeekdayDateNameHoliday Type
2019SunApr 14Palm SundayChristian
2020SunApr 5Palm SundayChristian
2021SunMar 28Palm SundayChristian
2022SunApr 10Palm SundayChristian
2023SunApr 2Palm SundayChristian
2024SunMar 24Palm SundayChristian
2025SunApr 13Palm SundayChristian
2026SunMar 29Palm SundayChristian
2027SunMar 21Palm SundayChristian
2028SunApr 9Palm SundayChristian
2029SunMar 25Palm SundayChristian

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.