Catholics in the country have their palm crosses blessed on Palm Sunday to mark the start of the Holy Week celebration. | WIKIMEDIA COMMONS FILE
CEBU CITY, Philippines – (UPDATED, April 11, 2025) Palm fronds or lukay is commonly used to produce hanging rice or puso – an iconic Cebuano staple.
But in Roman Catholicism, this symbolizes peace and victory.
In most liturgical churches, it is believed that palm fronds were used to celebrate Christ’s entry into the holy land of Jerusalem.
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Catholics would normally adorn their homes with crosses that are made from palm fronds to celebrate Palm Sunday, the start of the Holy Week celebration and last Sunday of lent or the season of abstinence and fasting.
Palm crosses that are blessed with holy water during Palm Sunday Masses are not discarded after use. These are burned and its ashes kept for use during the observance of Ash Wednesday in the next calendar year.
Palm Sunday sets the tone for the solemnity of Holy Week, which includes Maundy Thursday (commemorating the Last Supper), Good Friday (marking Jesus’ crucifixion), and Easter Sunday (celebrating His resurrection). It reflects both joy and sorrow: Jesus was welcomed like a king, but within days, He would be betrayed and crucified.
/ dcb
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