Three things you probably didn't know about Palm Sunday

Before Holy Week takes over with its pilgrims and penitents on the streets of Cebu, Palm Sunday quietly sets things off. It’s celebratory, but not flashy — marked by palm fronds, processions, and hosannas echoing through churches from Cebu to the Vatican.But behind the familiar waving of lukay and the reading of the Passion is a deep well of lesser-known traditions and facts.

Here’s a round-up of things you probably didn’t know about Palm Sunday:Not just palmsIn regions where palm trees don’t grow, churches often substitute with local flora—olive branches, boxwood, willow, or anything that resembles palm leaves. At the Vatican, olive branches are particularly common, especially during the Mass in St. Peter’s Square.



These are often donated from groves in Southern Italy, underscoring the link between regional agriculture and liturgical tradition.Two Gospel readingsMost Masses have one Gospel reading — but Palm Sunday breaks that rule. There’s a Gospel reading during the Blessing of Palms, typically read before the entrance procession and recounting Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

Then, during the Liturgy of the Word, the longer and more solemn Passion narrative is proclaimed — changing each year depending on the liturgical cycle (Matthew, Mark, or Luke).Specific townsEach year, the intricately woven palms used by the pope during the Palm Sunday Mass are crafted by artisans in the Ligurian towns of Sanremo and Bordighera — known for their abundant palm groves. The ornate weavings, called parmureli, are handmade and delivered to the Vatican in time for the papal liturgy.

Imagine how even the smallest palm frond carries the weight of centuries..