Palm Sunday begins the Christian Holy Week,which commemorates the last week of Jesus life. Several different versions of this important story are recounted in the New Testament (Matthew 21:1-9, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-38). When presenting this story to children, you will want to remind them that this is indeed a story.

Palm Sunday is a celebration of the events associated with the day when Jesus entered Jerusalem, enacting the Coming of the Messiah according to the Jewish traditions. His disciples took branches from the palm trees and placed them on the road ahead of him as he rode in on a donkey. Thus, the name Palm Sunday, a day of joy and triumph. In the seventh or eighth century, the Christian churches started the practice of blessing and distributing palm branches, which is continued in many Christian churches today.

Other events of Holy Week include Maundy (Holy) Thursday and Good Friday. Celebrations are held on Holy Thursday commemorating that day when Jesus washed the feet of his twelve friends (disciples) as he gathered with them for his last supper. The Friday before Easter commemorates the day Jesus was crucified. It is called "good" because Christians believe that Jesus atoned for the sins of the world through his death and was victorious over death.

In celebrating Palm Sunday, focus on the courage of Jesus who chose to come to Jerusalem and speak out about what he held sacred. It is important to reflect on the teachings of Jesus– the right relationship of one human being to another and of each person to her or his God, as exemplified in "The Lord’s Prayer" and in "The Golden Rule." Choose one or both of these teachings to share with the children and make it a Hosanna day.

The teachings of Jesus emphasized in this session are found in the Christian scriptures: The Golden Rule is in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31; The New Commandment is in Matthew 22:34- 40, Mark 12:28-34, and Luke 10:25-28; and The Lord’s Prayer is in Matthew 6:9-15.

Unitarian Universalist interpretations of these teachings can be found in From Long Ago and Many Lands, edited by Sophia Lyon Fahs, and "The Lord’s Prayer," words by the Rev. Barbara Marshman.