Introduction
Palm Sunday, March 21, 2027, opens Holy Week. It recalls Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a young donkey, welcomed by a crowd waving palm branches and crying Hosanna, one week before his resurrection. Jesus is greeted there as the promised king, gentle and humble.
Every spring, branches are waved in church services and processions a week before Easter. But what exactly does this Sunday commemorate, and why did Jesus choose a donkey? This page answers simple questions, from the meaning of the word Hosanna to the verses that foretell and recount the event.
What do the branches and Hosanna mean?
The word branches refers to the branches the crowd spread out or waved as Jesus passed by. Hosanna comes from the Hebrew hôsha'na, which means “save now” or “save, we beg you.” Originally, it was a prayer addressed to God asking for his help.
Over time, the word became a cry of joy and acclamation. When the crowd shouts it to Jesus, it recognizes him as the one who comes to save, even though it does not yet grasp what this salvation will cost.
What do the Gospels tell about the entry into Jerusalem?
All four Gospels recount this scene, a few days before the Jewish Passover. These verses, including some from other books of the Bible, help us understand it.
Zechariah 9:9
"Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
Centuries earlier, the prophet Zechariah announces a righteous and victorious king who is nevertheless humble, mounted on a donkey. The Gospels see in Jesus' entry the fulfillment of this promise. Read all of Zechariah 9.
Matthew 21:8
"A very great multitude spread their clothes on the road. Others cut branches from the trees, and spread them on the road."
The crowd spreads its clothes on the road and cuts branches to honor Jesus. It is a gesture of welcome reserved for kings: the road is prepared for him as for a sovereign. Read all of Matthew 21.
John 12:12-13
"On the next day a great multitude had come to the feast. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet him, and cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!"
John alone speaks of palm trees. In the Bible, the palm is linked to festivity and victory. People come out to meet him and greet him as the King of Israel. Read all of John 12.
Psalm 118:25-26
"Save us now, we beg you, Yahweh! Yahweh, we beg you, send prosperity now. Blessed is he who comes in Yahweh’s name! We have blessed you out of Yahweh’s house."
The crowd takes up the words of a psalm sung at the great feasts and applies them to Jesus: he is the one who comes in the name of Yahweh, God's messenger. Read all of Psalm 118.
Mark 11:9-10
"Those who went in front, and those who followed, cried out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!"
In Mark, the acclamation evokes the reign of our father David. The crowd expects a king from the line of David, the one the prophets had spoken of. Read all of Mark 11.
Luke 19:40-41
"He answered them, “I tell you that if these were silent, the stones would cry out.” When he came near, he saw the city and wept over it,"
When some Pharisees want the crowd silenced, Jesus answers that the stones would cry out in his place. Then he weeps over Jerusalem: amid the cries of joy, he knows what awaits him. Read all of Luke 19.
Why did Jesus enter on a donkey and not on a horse?
In antiquity, a victorious war leader entered a city on horseback or in a chariot. A donkey, by contrast, was the mount of a king who comes in peace. By choosing a young donkey, Jesus presents himself as a gentle and humble king, not as a political conqueror.
This detail already foreshadows the rest of the week: this king will not reign by crushing his enemies, but by giving his life. The throne awaiting him in Jerusalem will be a cross.
Where does the tradition of Palm Sunday come from, and what is its date in 2027?
From the earliest centuries, Christians in Jerusalem gathered on the Sunday before Easter to reenact this entry, with branches in hand. The custom spread through the churches. Depending on the region, people use palm fronds, olive branches, or boxwood, which is easier to find in temperate climates.
Some churches organize a procession, while others are content with a service of praise, with branches handed out to the children. These practices vary, and each tradition can find its own way of remembering. In 2027, Palm Sunday falls on March 21, one week before Easter on March 28.
Common misconceptions about Palm Sunday
We sometimes read that the crowd of Palm Sunday would be the same one that shouts “Crucify him!” a few days later. The Bible does not say so, and it is wise to be cautious: the accounts do not specify who made up each crowd. Do not draw a conclusion the text does not state.
Another misunderstanding is to see in Palm Sunday a festival of political victory. Many were waiting for a liberator against the Roman occupation, but Jesus came for another victory, a deeper one: to reconcile human beings with God.
How to live Palm Sunday
Welcome Jesus as king in your own life. Ask yourself which area you still keep at a distance: your family, your work, your plans. Open the door to him, as the crowd opened the road for him.
Praise him simply. Sing a hymn, thank him aloud, and join the service at your church. Then enter Holy Week with one reading a day, from March 21 to March 28, following the last days of Jesus.
If you have children, involve them: give them a branch to wave, tell them about the donkey and the crowd, and let them shout Hosanna. The youngest often remember the story better when they take part.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the date of Palm Sunday 2027?
Palm Sunday 2027 falls on March 21, one week before Easter Sunday, March 28. It opens Holy Week, which leads to Maundy Thursday (March 25) and Good Friday (March 26).
What does Hosanna mean?
Hosanna comes from the Hebrew hôsha'na and means “save now” or “save, we beg you.” It was first a prayer asking for God's help, and later became a cry of praise. The crowd shouts it to Jesus, whom it welcomes as the king sent by God.
Why did Jesus enter Jerusalem on a donkey?
The donkey is the mount of a king of peace, not of a war leader. Jesus thus fulfills Zechariah's prophecy of a humble king mounted on a donkey. He presents himself as a gentle sovereign who came to save, not to conquer.
Why is boxwood used on Palm Sunday?
Palm trees rarely grow in temperate climates. In several regions, they are replaced by olive or boxwood branches, which stay green all year and are easy to find in spring. What matters is not the plant, but the memory of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.