Today is Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday marks the day when Jesus triumphantly rode into Jerusalem a week before his resurrection.
This event is recounted in each of the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
According to the gospels, Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem, crying before he enters, as he knows the sacrifice he is about to make.
As he rode into the city, people laid down their cloaks, palm leaves and small tree branches on the ground before him, singing Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, we bless you from the house of the Lord.
In many ancient Eastern cultures, it was customary to cover the path of someone deemed worthy of the highest honour, while in Roman culture, palm leaves were symbols of victory.
As such, the palm symbol came to represent triumph over death for Christian martyrs.
Many churches hand out palm leaves to their congregation on Palm Sunday, often blessed first by the clergy.
People take them home and hang them on their walls, alongside Christian art, or fold them into cross shapes.
Speaking on the significance of the day, the Parish Priest of Saint Catherine Catholic Church, Awkuzu, Reverend Father Innocent Egbunike said Palm Sunday reawakens the spirit of victory over sins, trials and tribulations as Christ had after his trials.
Reverend Father Egbunike reminded Christians of the need to do away with sinful acts and said it is the will of God for all souls to make heaven.
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