When is Palm Sunday this year - and what does it signify?

Palm Sunday is an important day on the Christian calendar in the run up to the Easter weekend, marking the start of Holy Week.

Here’s everything to know about Palm Sunday, including this year’s date, what it means and how to get children involved with songs and activities.

What is Palm Sunday and what’s the story behind it?

Palm Sunday marks the first day of Holy Week, which is the last week of Lent. Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday.

Palm Sunday is observed from multiple denominations of Christianity, including Roman Methodists, Presbyterians and Roman Catholics. It is also sometimes known as Passion Sunday.

Palm Sunday celebrates the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey.

According to Christian teaching, as he approached Jerusalem, he told two of his disciples to go into a nearby village and bring him a donkey on which he would then ride into the city.

When Jesus entered the city on the donkey, he was welcomed by people waving giant palm leaves.

This took place just days before his crucifixion, which happened on Good Friday. Good Friday, which lands on 10 April this year, is a Christian holiday which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus at Calvary.