On Palm Sunday Christian churches celebrate the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem a few days before he was executed.
Narrative images usually follow the Gospels literally in representing the entry into Jerusalem. Disciples have placed garments on the back of "the colt of an ass," on which Jesus rides toward Jerusalem, followed by the apostles. One or more members of the crowd spread their clothes on the road before him, someone is in a tree cutting branches to strew in his way, and others wave palm branches (example).
For Palm Sunday processions many churches throughout Europe and Latin America used what the Germans call a palmesel, a statue of Jesus and the colt on a stand that is wheeled or carried through the streets, as at left and in this example. In the Gospels the crowd acclaims Jesus as a king and as "son of David," so on the palmesel he has a robe of purple or scarlet, and sometimes a sceptre (example).
Feast day: Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter
At left, "Palm Sunday Christ" - Mexico
Other images:
4th century sarcophagus
10th century
ivory
panel
12th century French relief
14th century
Spanish relief
Colonial era
Mexican sculptureScriptural sources:
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