Palm Sunday Procession

موكب أحد الشعانين

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Religious & SpiritualEast Jerusalem
DatesDates TBA · Usually MarchCheck locally before booking
Duration1 dayListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forCeremony, pilgrimageThe Jerusalem Palm Sunday procession follows
Language["ar"]Currency: ILS
CategoryReligious & SpiritualFestival type
The story

Palm Sunday Procession in East Jerusalem

On Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter, Christian clergy, scouts, and pilgrims process from Bethphage on the Mount of Olives down into Jerusalem's Old City, retracing the route the Gospels describe as Jesus's entry into the city before his crucifixion. Organized largely through the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the procession carries palm and olive branches and typically ends near St. Anne's Church inside the Lions' Gate.

Palm Sunday marks the first day of Holy Week, commemorating the Gospel account of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey while crowds greeted him waving palm branches, a gesture framed as recognition of a king arriving in peace rather than as a conqueror on horseback.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The Jerusalem Palm Sunday procession follows the specific topography named in the Gospels: it begins at Bethphage, a village on the Mount of Olives cited in the Gospel accounts, descends the slope overlooking the Old City and the Kidron Valley, and enters through the Lions' Gate, also called St

02

The mystery stays covered

Participants include the Latin Patriarch and other clergy, local Christian scout troops playing bagpipes and drums, and lay pilgrims from Jerusalem, the West Bank, and abroad, carrying palm fronds and olive branches

03

The city starts moving

Because Western and Eastern churches follow different calendars, Jerusalem can in practice see two separate Palm Sunday observances in years when the dates diverge

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The procession commemorates the Gospel account of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey to crowds waving palm branches

Water and renewal

Living ritual

understood as a symbolic entry in peace

The sacred route

Living ritual

In Jerusalem the route traditionally starts at Bethphage on the Mount of Olives and ends inside the Old City near St

The local code

Living ritual

Anne's Church

Tradition 5

Living ritual

retracing the topography named in the Gospel narratives

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually March

Getting around

Move patiently around ceremony routes and leave space for worshippers and participants.

What to wear

Modest dress is expected, covering shoulders and knees, with comfortable walking shoes for the sloped, sometimes uneven route down the Mount of Olives and through the Old City's stone...

Safety

Watch local behavior before photographing, filming, or entering sacred spaces.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Public ritual moments are often free, but donations, transport, or temple access may vary.

Language/currency

["ar"] · ILS

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map31.78 N, 35.23 EOpen in Google Maps

East Jerusalem, Jerusalem Governorate, Palestine

Nearest airportTLV — Ben Gurion
TransportMove patiently around ceremony routes and leave space for worshippers and participants.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to East Jerusalem via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near East Jerusalem, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for March.Compare faresFestival gearModest dress is expected, covering shoulders and knees, with comfortable walking shoes for the sloped, sometimes uneven route down the Mount of Olives and through the Old City's stone streets.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Palestine and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Palm Sunday Procession?

Palm Sunday Procession is listed for Past edition: 29 March 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Palm Sunday Procession take place?

The festival is listed in East Jerusalem, Palestine. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

East Jerusalem, Jerusalem Governorate, Palestine

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLcalendardate.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually March
Source statusOfficial source linked
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