What is Maundy Thursday? Meaning explained
MANY of us think Easter starts on Good Friday but celebrations actually start the day before - on Maundy Thursday.
Marking the end of Lent and start of Easter, is an oft forgotten Christian holy day called Maundy Thursday, which is when Jesus' last supper took place.
What is Maundy Thursday?
Maundy Thursday is known by many names, such as Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday, Sheer Thursday, and Thursday of Mysteries.
It is a Christian holy day that falls on the day before Good Friday.
It honours the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles in Jerusalem before he was .
Maundy comes from the Latin "mandatum", meaning command, used in the ceremony of the washing of the feet which forms part of some church services.
According to St John's gospel, before the Last Supper Jesus washed his followers' feet to show his humility.
He then said: “A new commandment I give unto you: that you love one another as I have loved you.”
What traditions take place on Maundy Thursday?
Until 1689, there was a custom of the monarch washing worshippers’ feet in Westminster Abbey.
Feet washing is still a tradition in Catholic churches and the Pope will wash and kiss the feet of 12 of the congregation
These days, the Queen attends a Royal Maundy service at one of Britain's cathedrals or royal chapels.
The sovereign hands out “Maundy money” to deserving pensioners from local communities.
Food and clothing would also be handed out to those in need.
Christians often eat a supper of bread and wine in honour of the Last Supper.
What is Maundy money?
Maundy money is made up of coins that have been specially minted for the occasion – they are legal tender and are highly collectable.
The image of The Queen on ordinary coinage has transformed over the years, but Maundy coins remain unchanged.
By Mary Gillick, Maundy money depicts her in the same likeness as the first coins, which were issued in the year of her coronation in 1953.
In a tradition dating to the 15th century, as many elderly men and women as there are years in the Queen's age receive the Maundy money.
This year, it has been confirmed that the Queen, 95, will not attend a Royal Maundy service at St George's Chapel, Windsor.
Instead, Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles will take her place as they have been regularly since the Commonwealth service.
Some 95 men and 95 women will receive the Maundy money from Her Majesty.