Palm Sunday is held 7 days before Easter Sunday. So, this post should have appeared last Sunday, or at least this week Monday… But, I have been really busy recently. Could not process photos. That’s why I am posting it today – the day of another big holiday which is Good Friday.

Today also happens to be a cherished holiday by Orthodox Christianity, which usually falls within the Easter celebration time. This day in the Georgian language is called ხარება, in the Russian language, it is called – Благовещения. In English, it is referred to as Annunciation. The day when Mother Mary received good news that she had conceived Jesses Christ.

Back to this post, which I am posting late, but the day of a big holiday for the Catholic population – Good Friday and the Orthodox population – the day of Annunciation.

Thousands and thousands of residents and tourists participated in last Sunday’s celebration. This is the day when Jesucristo arrives in Jerusalem on his donkey. As Jesucristo was entering Jerusalem people were greeting him with Palm leaves. Nowadays participants in these day processions carry palm leaves, and palm crests which symbolically connect them to the original day of Jesus Christ entering Jerusalem. They walk behind a statue of Christ sitting on a donkey. The statue is a representation of hope, renewal of faith, and a blessed future.

All day long there are prayers, songs, and dances all around San Miguel de Allende.

Photos below represent this day in San Miguel de Allende. Old and young, kids and teens, all participating walking together, all celebrating.  Teen’s choir singing the story of the Christ.

As a faithful procession was carrying a statue of Christ, at the same time another group of people enjoyed a celebration in Centro, where people were just walking, singing and dancing on the streets.

Ken and I, we also participated in this day. I got to Palm Crest, we walked the procession, and we even had a glass of wine in the little wine bar, just around the corner from the main Cathedral.

As I was sitting at the end of the day and sipping my wine, I thought about this Holy Day and how good it felt to see all these people celebrating with no fear of any evil. Inadvertently, I remember the day, Ken and I went to New York City to see the Christmas Tree on Rockefeller Plaza and how scared I was and how uneasy I felt surrounded by masses of people.

At any rate, I am glad it felt so good here. Celebrations continue and I will have more to post later today and/or tomorrow.

For the ones who do not know Orthodox Church celebrates Easter one week late. Easter here in San Miguel is April 9, and in Orthodox Christian countries – Georgia is one of those Easter is April 16.

Those below are my palm leave crosses standing tall in our apartment.