HOLY WEEK CRAFT KIT: Palm Sunday

THANK YOU for your interest in our Holy Week Craft Kit! We are very excited to be taking this Christ-centered creative journey together with you. Please scroll down for a tutorial on how to make today’s craft and for additional teaching resources.

Today we have planned two craft projects, one for the morning, and one for the evening. At church, on Palm Sunday morning, we celebrate the Triumphant Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem. The church is usually decorated with palm branches, and it is customary for the priest to distribute to the faithful palm leaf crosses, commemorating the victory of Christ against the evil powers. In the evening, the Orthros (Matins) service usually takes place in anticipation of the following day, so the themes are actually the ones relevant to Holy Monday. One of them is the withering of the fig tree, a miracle symbolic of those who claim religious identity, but who in reality have empty lives that yield no spiritual fruit. 

PALM SUNDAY MORNING – THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRANCE INTO JERUSALEM
Palm waver

You will need:

  • The printed Palm Waver template provided in the kit
  • A pair of scissors
  • A jumbo craft stick
  • Colorful ribbons
  • Scotch tape

HOW TO MAKE THE CRAFT

Cut out the palm leaf template. You can be as detailed as you like, either cutting around every little shape like we did in the photos, or cutting around the overall shape of the waver. Tape the blank side of the leaf template onto the craft stick . Tape the ribbon pieces onto the top part of the back side of the leaf or tie them around the stick.

Ready! The child can use this craft to act out the joyous welcoming of Christ into Jerusalem. Wave it while exclaiming: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” Older children can also try chanting the troparion.

PALM SUNDAY EVENING – THE WITHERING FIG TREE
Paper bag fig tree

You will need:

  • The printed page provided in the kit, containing the fig leaf templates
  • A pair of scissors
  • A paper lunch bag
  • Glue or tape (double-sided tape works best)

HOW TO MAKE THE CRAFT

Cut out the leaves. As with the previous craft, you can be as detailed as you like.

Cut the paper bag into 1/2-inch strips, starting from the top and going half-way down. Open the bag, stand it up, then twist it at the middle to create the trunk.

Twist a few strips together to make each branch. Tape or glue the leaves onto the branches.

Ready! It can be used as a visual aid to discuss the story of the day.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

BIBLE READING
Morning: John 12: 12-18
Evening: Matthew 21: 18-20

Printable packet

Planner, fact sheets, worksheets, and flashcards.

view packet

Digital activities

Animated slideshow and a variety of games.

view activities

BACKGROUND

This tutorial is part of the HOLY WEEK CRAFT KIT
by Orthodox Pebbles.

view all tutorials
craft kit main page

Special thanks to Presbytera Destinie of Ascetic Life of Motherhood for exploring the kit with her sweet little children and sharing wonderful photos with us.