Pääsuntaina

Pääsuntaina, also known as Palm Sunday in English, is a Christian observance that falls on the Sunday immediately preceding Easter. It commemorates the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, an event described in all four canonical Gospels. According to the biblical accounts, Jesus rode into the city on a donkey, and the crowds welcomed him by waving palm branches and laying them on the road. This procession is seen as a fulfillment of prophecy and a recognition of Jesus as the Messiah.

In many Christian traditions, Pääsuntaina is marked by special church services. Palm branches, or sometimes other types of greenery, are blessed and distributed to the congregation. These are often carried during the processions and then taken home by worshippers as a symbol of faith. The day serves as a reminder of the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, initiating Holy Week. The mood of the day is often a mix of celebration for Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem and solemn anticipation of the events of the Passion. While the biblical narrative begins with joyous acclamation, the subsequent events of the week are understood to be a significant part of the Christian narrative of salvation.