Palm   Sunday,  the  final  Sunday  of  Lent and  the  beginning  of  Holy  Week,  is  known  as  such  because  the faithful  will  often  receive  palm  fronds which  they  use  to  participate  in  the  re-enactment  of  Christ's  arrival in  Jerusalem. In  the  Gospels,  Jesus  entered  Jerusalem  riding  a  young  donkey,  and  to  the  lavish praise  of the  townspeople  who  threw  clothes,   palms  or  small  branches,  in  front  of  him  as  a  sign  of  homage.  

This  was  a  customary  practice  for  people  who  were  greatly  respected.                                                                                                         

Palm  branches  are  widely  recognized  as  a  symbol  of  peace  and  victory.

Jesus’  decision  to ride on a donkey  instead  of  a  horse is  highly  symbolic,  because   it represents  the humble arrival   of   someone  in  peace,   as   opposed  to   arriving   on  a   steed   in  war. 

There  is  a   particularly   long   gospel   on   this   Sunday,  when  the   Passion  of   Jesus Christ   is   read   usually   by   different  readers.  The  priest   reads   the  words  of  Jesus. 

As parishioners enter Church  they are invited to take a palm, which may be fashioned into the shape of  a cross. During  the  Palm   Sunday  Mass,  these palms    are blessed   and parishioners are encouraged to take them home.    Those palms that are left   are not discarded, instead, they are  burned  to create   the   ashes   that   will  be  used   in  the   following   year's   Ash Wednesday observance.