Sunday, March 20, 2005
A Palm reader
Christians prepared last week for today's services that mark
Jesus' triumphant entrance into Jerusalem on the Sunday before Easter.
OC Register
Where do the palms come from?Many churches buy fronds from palm trees grown in Florida and Texas sold through companies like Cotter Church Supply in Los Angeles and San Diego Church Supply in Escondido. A few congregations use locally grown fronds. Rod Rodriguez, who owns a tree-trimming service in San Clemente, donates fronds cut and collected from local trees to his parish church, St. Clements by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, and about 10 others.
How are they used in services?
On Palm Sunday, many congregations gather outside the church where worshipers receive palm fronds that are blessed by the clergy. Holding the palm fronds, they enter the sanctuary in a procession. Traditional elements of Palm Sunday services include the singing of the hymn, "All Glory, Laud and Honor," and a reading of the Passion from the Gospels.
What happens to the fronds after Palm Sunday?
Some people weave them into crosses. People take them home and display them next to a crucifix or an image of Christ. Some fronds are collected, saved and burned to be used as ashes on Ash Wednesday next year. Santa Ana artist David Vazquez uses fronds to create figures for a Crucifixion scene for Good Friday at the Episcopal Church of the Messiah in Santa Ana.
What kinds of palms are commonly used?
Phoenix canariensis or Canary Island date palms, Mexican fan palms, sago palms
and Mediterranean fan palms.
What’s the significance?
According to the Gospels, Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem on the Sunday
before his resurrection, cheered by the crowds who fanned him with palm
branches. Countries without palm trees were forced to make substitutions, and
Palm Sunday became known in other places as Olive Sunday, Willow Bough Sunday,
Blossom Sunday and Branch Sunday.
PREPARATION: Frank Soto, 58, decorates St. Clements by-the-Sea Episcopal Church for Palm Sunday services.
DELIVERY: Jesus Diaz was part of a tree-trimming crew that brought fronds to San Clemente churches Friday.
WEAVING: Lanneau Miller, 62, of San Clemente, makes crosses from palm leaves on Saturday at St. Clements by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.