Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter Day. It is to commemorate Jesus' last journey
to Jerusalem, when people cut palm branches to spread on his path as he rode to the city.
Many other traditions are associated with Palm Sunday. In some parts of England it used
to be called Fig Sunday because people ate fig pies or puddings on that day. In Wales it
is called Sul y Blodau, Flowering Sunday. In Greece people like to eat fish on Palm Sunday. In some German towns people decorate poles with streamers and branches of pussy willow. Christians in Lebanon like to wear new clothes on Palm Sunday. In Italy it is regarded as a day of making up quarrels.
Holy Thursday:
Holy Thursday is also referred to as Maundy Thursday. In Europe the
Christian monarchs used to wash the feet of poor people on the
Thursday before Easter in memory of Jesus's Act.
Also on this day Jesus ate and drank with his followers. This meal
became known as the Last Supper, because Jesus died soon after.
Good Friday:
Good Friday is the commemoration of the Trial and Crucifixion of
Jesus. In some countries the bells are tolled while in other
countries they are silenced until Sunday. A custom also is the
eating of Hot Cross Buns. Many superstitions go with hot cross buns
such as they are a charm against evil and are kept indefinitely.
Holy Saturday:
Holy Saturday is part of the period mourning which begins on Good
Friday. For Christians in countries such as Bulgaria, Greece and
Poland, Holy Saturday is a day of cooking, ready for the feasting
the following day to celebrate the Resurrection.
Easter Day:
Easter day is the Commemoration of the Resurrection of Jesus, with its promise of eternal
life. A symbol of the Resurrection is the egg out of which a bird hatches.
It is an ancient tradition in Britain to climb the nearest hill to
see the sunrise. In America services are held outdoors at dawn in
such places as the Hollywood Bowl. On this day it is also tradition
to wear new clothes which has been carried on to the modern "Easter Parade".
There is always a Feast with various foods in different countries
such as hot cross buns in Australia; simnel cake in Britain; pacoca
in Brazil; Easter cakes in Finland and Italy; turkey or chicken in
Lebanon; and pasenbrood in the Netherlands.
Ascension:
Ascension is the fortieth day from Easter Day. It was on this day
that Jesus ascended into Heaven. Ascension Day falls on a Thursday. The Paschal candle
which was lit on Easter Day to mark the resurrection is put out to mark Jesus' departure
from Earth.
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