Yesterday, Christians all over Egypt celebrated the entry of Christ into Jerusalem. The entry on a donkey was met with branches of palms held by villagers; the palms used on this occasion are a symbol of his entry and victory.
This tradition is held every year during the holy week which marks the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus. The holiday is one of the most important in Christianity and it’s celebrated by Egyptians throughout the country.
The Coptic Orthodox church celebrates Palm Sunday on the 21st. Farms gather up to sell the blessed palms for churchgoers before the mass.
Flowers are also considered a blessing during the mass in church, celebrated with the same significance as the palm and olive branches. They’re shown in full bloom with the Egyptian flag below:
Palm vendors sold the branches in shapes of crosses and other various designs on the streets. This little girl wore hers as a crown around her head.
These branches were sold all over Egypt’s districts and around churches for EGP 3-5. Besides the palms and olive branches, flowers were sold as a representation of an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1976.
Coptic tradition follows a fasting tradition of 55 days and a vegan diet until Easter. The holiday is beyond flowers, palms, and Easter bunnies, but rather the meaningful resurrection of Christ.
The districts were full of carts and stations selling these plants led by farmers, kicking off the holy week of Easter.
