This Sunday many churches would be celebrating "Palm Sunday" by marching into the nave waving palm branches. This year, as we distance ourselves due to the corona virus pandemic, many of us will be at home, watching on our computer screens, in splendid isolation, as our priests and ministers carry on the tradition.
Palm Sunday is a bit of a misnomer because in today's assigned reading, palm branches were not the great honor bestowed on the "King" of "daughter Zion."
So why don't we call it "Cloak Sunday"?
People have tried to lobby for such a change, but it never caught on. I guess folks are not too willing to toss their Sunday best into the church aisle for the priests, acolytes, and choirs to walk over in a recreation of the event.
If you ever get tired of calling it "Palm Sunday" and are not ready to make the sacrifice of "Cloak Sunday", here are a few of the various names used historically and around the world for today's commemoration (derived from the Catholic Encyclopedia plus one from an older post here*),
Palm Sunday is a bit of a misnomer because in today's assigned reading, palm branches were not the great honor bestowed on the "King" of "daughter Zion."
"A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road." Matthew 21:8Spreading one's cloak on the road was a greater sacrifice, because cloaks were probably quite valuable and the roads back then were pretty nasty what with all those colts and donkeys coming and going, and going.
So why don't we call it "Cloak Sunday"?
People have tried to lobby for such a change, but it never caught on. I guess folks are not too willing to toss their Sunday best into the church aisle for the priests, acolytes, and choirs to walk over in a recreation of the event.
If you ever get tired of calling it "Palm Sunday" and are not ready to make the sacrifice of "Cloak Sunday", here are a few of the various names used historically and around the world for today's commemoration (derived from the Catholic Encyclopedia plus one from an older post here*),
- Kyriake
- Heorte ton baion
- Heorte baiophoros
- Lazarus Sunday
- Dominica in Palmis
- Dominica Palmarum
- Dies Palmarum
- Dominica Hosanna
- Pascha floridum
- Pâques fleuries
- Pascua florida
- Dominica florida
- Dies floridus
- Fig Sunday*
- Flower Sunday
- Olive Sunday
- Branch Sunday
- Sallow Sunday
- Willow Sunday
- Yew Sunday
- Blossom Sunday
- Sunday of the Willow Boughs
- Blumensonntag
- Blumentag
- Secundus floricultus (Armenian seventh Sunday after Easter)
- Secunda palmarum dominica (Armenian seventh Sunday after Easter)
It has been suggested that we tack branches on our doors to celebrate Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem.
Pewsterspouse and I will be tacking a housecoat (the closest thing we have to a cloak) to our doorway.
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A fun post! Thanks! If you see your neighbors, at a six-foot distance, of course, have a good time explaining the housecoat.
ReplyDeleteOur communion service was live-streamed this morning, and a section of blessed palm branch will be mailed to us tomorrow morning (we live too far away for home delivery today).
A blessed Holy Week to you and Pewsterspouse. I always look for silver linings. Without the bustle of going to work and all the distractions, we should have more time to follow the Holy Week liturgies and to pray.
Our parish will live stream Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services, and a few daily offices as well.
DeleteYes, so will ours, Pewster. What a blessing the internet is in these circumstances! While it has been instrumental in spreading panic, it is also allowing us to join with others in prayer.
DeleteYes, our church will celebrate Holy Week virtually.
DeleteOh, that's just fantastic! I love it! Nice decoration.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, the thought never occurred to me re: Cloak Sunday. I shall have to give it some further thought. Thanks for opening my mind.
Blessings, TUP!