Palm Sunday without Palms

Romans use olive branches on Palm Sunday, even though there is an abundance of palm trees throughout the city. In the Gospel of Mark (that was read today) there is no mention of palms.

Many people spread their cloaks on the road,
and others spread leafy branches
that they had cut from the fields.
Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out:
"Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
Hosanna in the highest!"

Distributing leafy branches in Piazza San Ignazio.

Processing to Caravita from the Piazza San Ignazio.