If you’re not interested in going to a church of a different denomination, look for a different congregation of your denomination that is having a celebratory service.
Some churches also use the parade to honor important people in the parish, like good Samaritans and visiting pastors, since palms were traditionally used to represent a “high-ranking” or royal person.
It’s important to explore both the good and bad emotions and traits in the story of Jesus’ persecution. The liturgy is meant to highlight how even good people can betray those that they love. Take time to consider Jesus’ sacrifice for even those people who betrayed him, and think about how you can integrate some selfless actions like these in your everyday life.
You might also hear shouts of “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” which is also a popular saying on Palm Sunday.
It’s also important to keep in mind that Jesus was arrested in Jerusalem just days after arriving there, and many of the followers who greeted him turned their backs on him.
If your loved ones don’t have a grave, simply spend time reminiscing on your time with them. Think about their positive traits and what made them a good person, and consider how their experiences in life may have been similar to your own.
If you don’t plan to display the palm in your home, you can normally leave it at the church, where it will be burned to make ashes for the next year’s Ash Wednesday celebration. You should never throw away a palm that you receive at a church service, since they are considered blessed. To make a the palm smaller, you can fold it into a cross and place it somewhere where you’ll see it every day.
Keep in mind that depictions of Jesus’ death can sometimes be quite graphic and may not be suitable for younger children who are easily frightened.
