The Sunday before Easter begins the Christian Holy Week. This day is Palm Sunday.
The symbolism of Jesus riding a donkey and while his followers laid palm branches before his path is a fulfillment of a prophecy by the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 9:9). It was a regional custom called for kings and nobles arriving in procession to ride on the back of a donkey. The donkey was a symbol of peace; thus, Jesus was proclaiming his peaceful intentions. The laying of palm branches was also a customary representation of royalty arriving in victory or triumph.
