Today, 21 April 2019, the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates Palm Sunday, the day Jesus Christ made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, a gentle man sitting on a donkey. A very large crowd met him; some spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road, cheering: “Hosanna to the Son of David!
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
The day is celebrated in Egypt with palm fronds artistically woven into traditional shapes of crosses, hearts, crowns, donkeys, and little ornaments. Families buy the palm fronds a day earlier, and spend the eve of Palm Sunday weaving them. It is a time of joy especially for the little children who adorn themselves with palm bracelets and rings and, the following morning, carry the crosses and hearts they wove and go to church where they join the procession chanting “Hosanna King of Israel; Hosanna Son of David; Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the Highest.”
Watani wishes its readers a blessed, happy day.
Watani International
21 April 2019