Palm Sunday

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Lesson Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Kenya Series at SwahiliPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Kenyan holidays and observances. I’m Eric, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 8, Palm Sunday. In Swahili, it’s called Jumapili ya Mitende.

Palm Sunday is a Christian holiday celebrated one week before Easter, the day Jesus arrived triumphantly in Jerusalem, an event that caused a lot of commotion, or in Swahili ghasia.

This lesson will highlight how Kenyans celebrate Palm Sunday.

Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question-

Which tree's branches do Christians use to celebrate this Sunday in Kenya?

If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening.

On the feast of Palm Sunday, believers wake up very early in the morning and gather together at a holy place designated by the leaders of the church. They pray and start their journey by foot to the church, or kanisani.

When believers arrive at church, a special service, or misa ya pasaka, held just for this day is given. In many churches, the pastors, bishops, and church ministers bless symbols of the cross.

Children also participate in telling Bible stories related to Palm Sunday. Some church groups even play games, recite poems, and sing songs about this day, the day Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey.

Now it's time to answer our quiz question-

Which tree's branches do Christians use to celebrate this Sunday?

As you may have guessed, Christians in Kenya walk on the road carrying palm tree branches, or matawi ya mti wa mtende. This symbolizes how people spread their clothes and palm branches for Jesus to walk on as he entered Jerusalem.