Curious to know more about Palm Sunday? Then, here you go. Palm Sunday is a day that commemorates Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. One significant symbol in the celebration is the Palm Sunday Candle. These candles are generally made up of beeswax and come in wide color options or wrapping paper that compliments the liturgical color of the day. While these candles play a significant role in the celebration, their symbolism is often not understood entirely.
Let us discuss the symbolism behind Palm Sunday candles and why they are an essential part of the celebration.
Palm Sunday is the first day of the holy week and is celebrated on the Sunday before Easter. It commemorates the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. The people of Jerusalem welcomed Jesus by laying Palm branches and clothing on the road and shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna is the highest!” (Mathew 21:9) hence the phrase “Palm Sunday” comes in.
Use of candles-
The use of candles in Christian worship is very old; it goes back to the initial days of the church. These candles have different meanings to different sets of populations. But one symbol is common to all that is purity and light. This is why they are used in religious ceremonies to symbolize the light of God. The process of lighting the candles is often related to prayers and reflects God as the ultimate source of light.
In terms of Christianity, light represents Christ, who is called the light of the world. The lighted candles represent Christ’s presence, which provides comfort, guidance, and strength to his disciples in the spiritual journey. Similarly, the Palm Sunday candles represent Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, with Palm Cross denoting his teaching and arrival as the Messiah.
Variety in the candles-
The candles come in different colors and shades, each having different aspects of the Christian faith. For instance, the purple candle represents repentance and preparation for Holy Week, which reminds the followers that Christ’s sacrifice is imminent.
Red candles symbolize the passion and suffering of Christ, and white candles represent spiritual purity, divinity, and resurrection.
Wrapping paper-
The wrapping paper or band decorating the candles usually matches the liturgical color of the day, which depends on the church season or the occasion. For Palm Sunday, the liturgical color is red, which is the symbol of Christ’s passion and suffering. This is why the band around the Palm Sunday Candle is usually red.
Pastor lights a candle to reflect the start of the procession, which signifies the start of the journey, and calls the Holy Spirit for guidance.
The lighting of the candles signifies the triumph of Jesus over evil, spiritual death, and sin. It reflects his light that shines in a world full of darkness. The Palm Sunday Candles remind Christians that even in the darkest moments, Christ is always by their side and will help them in the difficult situations of their life.
Getting together-
The Palm Sunday candles are a reminder that Christ is always present and will always be our guide through life’s darkness and difficulties for amazing Palm Candles DIYs. Visit the website of Why Not DIY.