Wikipedia
The palm branch is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace and eternal life originating in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world. The palm ( Phoenix) was sacred in Mesopotamian religions, and in ancient Egypt represented immortality. In Judaism, a closed frond of the date palm is part of the festival of Sukkot. A palm branch was awarded to victorious athletes in ancient Greece, and a palm frond or the tree itself is one of the most common attributes of Victory personified in ancient Rome.
In Christianity, the palm branch is associated particularly with Palm Sunday, when according to Christian tradition palm branches were waved at the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It was adopted into Christian iconography to represent the victory of martyrs, or the victory of the spirit over the flesh.
Since a victory signals an end to a conflict or competition, the palm developed into a symbol of peace, a meaning it can have in Islam, where it is often associated with Paradise.
The palm appears on several flags or seals representing countries or other places, with the coconut palm associated with the tropics.
Usage examples of "palm branch".
I may say that he seemed to possess an extraordinary fascination for the Indian women, and that he always carried a large spreading palm branch with which he beat them off as if they were flies, when their attentions became too pressing.
The ambassador greets him with a wave of his pipe at a citron and palm branch on his desk.
Higher up, there was a kind of gallery with four observation turrets, each turret occupied by an armed man who waved a palm branch and carried a shield decorated with Hebrew letters.
I gave my palm branch a wave or two, for luck, and then I tautened up my harp-strings and struck in.
And Victory with her palm branch was changed to a grinning Fury who held a dripping sword.
And to his supporters, being a sailor on the dexter, and a lion on the sinister, were given these honorable augmentations: a palm branch in the sailor's hand, and another in the paw of the lion, both proper.
I have faint memories - my arms touching the warm cement - of a stop sign - of a sago palm branch brushing my cheek.
I have faint memories-my arms touching the warm cement-of a stop sign-of a sago palm branch brushing my cheek.
Neither shall there be for Egypt any work which head or tail, palm branch or rush, may do.
It was another man who placed a leafy crown on the driver's head, handed him a palm branch, and placed a bulging leather pouch in his hand.