Catholic and Protestant communities celebrate Palm Sunday.

(The Orthodox Christian community celebrates later as they follow the Julian calendar.)

This marks the beginning of Holy Week, historically the most sacred time of year for Christians.

Palm Sunday recalls an event in the Christian Scripture (The New Testament) of Jesus entering into Jerusalem and being greeted by the people waving palm branches.

For Christians, it is a reminder of the welcoming of Jesus into our hearts and of our willingness to follow him.

The service on Palm Sunday also includes a reading of the Passion, that is, the story of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth.

In today’s church, great care is given to make sure that the story of the death of Jesus is not presented in an anti-Semitic manner.

Jesus’ death is seen by Christians as salvation and as a reminder of how prophets are often killed when they stand for justice and peace.