Palm Sunday Procession

On Palm Sunday, March 29, this medieval reenactment of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem takes place at Archeon, beginning at the monastery in the town of Gravendam. Adults and children visiting Archeon can take part by helping to distribute palm branches, laying out cloaks, portraying apostles and disciples, and joining the procession while singing. Early in the morning, the baker has already baked small bread roosters. Children decorate their self-made Palm Sunday staffs with these and other treats.

Programme to be announced.

The history of the Palm Sunday procession

At the end of the fourth century, the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was celebrated in Jerusalem with a procession. A Spanish pilgrim, Egeria, described what she witnessed: on Palm Sunday afternoon, believers gathered on the Mount of Olives. In the presence of the bishop, hymns were sung and passages from the Bible were read. After the Gospel story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was read aloud, the bishop, preceded by the faithful, entered the city. Along the way, the same line was repeatedly sung in Dutch (as sung during the procession by the Friars Minor of Archeon in Gregorian style). Children carried branches of palm or olive trees. This custom later spread throughout Christianity.

During such processions, Jesus was represented by the bishop or a priest. Often, “apostles” (twelve elderly men) were included in the procession, as well as a donkey (the so-called palmezel). Sometimes Jesus was depicted by a statue seated on a donkey. The statue was draped in a precious cloak, and the donkey—mounted on wooden wheels—was pulled by men. During the procession, spectators waved palm branches blessed by the priest. The Palm Sunday procession was held in high regard until the Reformation.

Image: Palmezel with Jesus (Rijksmuseum Twenthe)

At Archeon, the Friars Minor from the monastery in Gravendam, together with the inhabitants of this traditional Dutch town, will demonstrate how such a procession once took place. As palm branches are not available in our northern climate, evergreen boxwood branches are used instead. Accompanied by citizens, guilds, and dignitaries of the town, the Friars process through the streets to celebrate the arrival of “the King” in Jerusalem.

The Friars Minor, wearing their brown habits and following Francis of Assisi, told stories about the life of Jesus, often using visual representations and theatre (such as the Nativity scene). Today, the entry into Jerusalem is reenacted.

Children—and parents, if they wish—are invited to take part in this medieval reenactment of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Halfway through the Palm Sunday procession, the Palm Sunday children’s parade takes place. Participants can bring along their decorated staff from location 27.

History of the Palm Sunday children’s parade

In the past, children usually did not carry palm branches during this parade, but a Palm Sunday staff (Palmpasenstok). The staff consisted of a trimmed branch with three, five, or more offshoots (later forming a cross shape) and was decorated with greenery (usually boxwood), nuts, raisins, dried apple, plum, fig, and other treats. On top, a small bread shaped like a pretzel or a bird (rooster or swan) was placed, or a bread wreath (for girls) was attached to the staff.

The Palm Sunday parade originated from a combination of a Christian tradition (commemorating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem) and a non-Christian Maypole celebration, in which a maypole symbolizing the growth force of nature was carried through the community. The parade, in which both children and adults participated, was banned in the mid-17th century. The tradition faded during the 19th century. The first renewed Palm Sunday parade with decorated staffs—now only for children—took place in 1921. Other towns soon followed, and in the 1930s the children’s Palm Sunday parade became popular again.

At Archeon, children are given the opportunity to make their own Palm Sunday staff. After the palm procession, they parade through medieval Gravendam with their decorated staff.

Easter symbolism

The Palm Sunday staff combines Christian and pre-Christian symbolism. The green branches refer to Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem; the bread symbolizes the institution of the Eucharist (the Last Supper) on Maundy Thursday; the cross refers to Jesus’ suffering and death on Good Friday; and the bread rooster refers to Peter, as a reminder to remain watchful.

At the same time, the Palm Sunday staff recalls pre-Christian fertility festivals celebrating new life in nature at the beginning of spring. Young greenery announced the coming of spring, dough represented germination and growth, eggs symbolized new life, and the bread rooster symbolized the victory of light over darkness (the rooster crows when the sun rises). Figs, raisins, and other treats symbolized fertility. In fertility cults, round shapes such as wreaths often played a role. The circle symbolized the cycle of the year and of life.