A few days ahead of Palm Sunday, traditional palm markets are set up in Rambla de Catalunya, between Aragó and Diputació, and in Plaça de la Sagrada Família. This year’s markets start on 20 March and will be in place until 23 and 24 March respectively, opening from 9 am to 9 pm.

In both Rambla de Catalunya and Plaça de la Sagrada Família, visitors can find woven palm elements in various sizes, laurel leaves and all sorts of decorative and related items, from typical sweets to coloured ribbons. The markets offer a pleasant setting to stroll in and engage closely with this Easter tradition, which has become an unmissable event for godparents.

The woven palm items are hand crafted, according to a very special process. They are made using palm stems which have been covered so that the sunlight does not make them turn green. This is why they are yellow and have a softer texture so that they can be crafted. These items tend to be whole stems, chosen especially for their smoothness. In contrast, palm leaves are the result of an intense labour of platting leaves, where the dexterity of the craftsperson stands out. You’ll find highly elaborate leaves with different plaits, flowers and grains. The tiny versions of these are also highly appreciated for the precision of the work involved.

The tradition of blessing the palm comes from a passage about the life of Jesus, explaining that he was welcomed in Jerusalem by crowds bearing palm leaves and laurel. People also attribute a series of special properties to palm items that have been blessed, such as protection for households and the fertility of land. Long ago, it was also traditional for many homes to hang these blessed items from their balcony from one year to another, but in Barcelona this custom is being lost.