Why do Catholics bring palaspas to church on Palm Sunday?

Why do Catholics bring palaspas or palm fronds to church on Palm Sunday?

According to Kuya Kim on "24 Oras Weekend," Sunday, Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem a few days before he was crucified.

There, he was welcomed by people who were waving palm branches.

"Ang kahulugan nito ay hindi lang pumasok si Hesus sa siyudad ng Herusalem pero pinapapasok natin siya sa ating puso dahil kung hindi makakapasok ang Diyos sa ating puso hindi siya magtatagumpay laban sa kamatayan," said Rev. Fr. Jowel Gatus of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish.

Dr. Carolyn Sobritchea, an anthropologist, said this was adapted by priests from an indigenous practice by our ancestors.

The palaspas brought by Catholics to church on Palm Sunday has several designs: braided, bird-like, lightning-shaped, and more.

What happens to them after the Holy Week? They are collected and burned, with the ash to be used on Ash Wednesday the following year.

One of the earliest historical accounts of the use of palaspas in the Philippines was written in the 1500s by Antonio Pigafetta.

According to him, the altar used during the first-ever baptism in the Philippines is made of palm fronds.

Meanwhile, Fray Juan De Plasencia wrote in 1589 that the natives of Nagcarlan, Laguna used palm fronds to decorate homes when they were doing rituals.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News