McLean Churches Celebrate Palm Sunday

Churchgoers throughout McLean will leave services this morning holding a sliver of palm to mark the beginning of the holiest week in the Christian church calendar.

The palms recall the  triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, the week before his death and resurrection, according to about.com

For many Christian churches, Palm Sunday, often referred to as "Passion Sunday," marks the beginning of Holy Week, which concludes on Easter Sunday, according to about.com

The Bible recounts Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds greeted him by waving palm branches and covering his path with palm branches.

Good Friday and the beginning of the Jewish observance of Passover coincide this year. Passover is a major Jewish holiday commemorating the escape of Hebrew slaves from ancient Egypt. Families and friends gather to retell the story of The Exodus during a special Passover Seder meal, according to ask.com

As an observant Jew, Jesus came to Jerasalem to celebrate Passover.