What is Maundy Thursday? Everything to know about this holy day
Before you dye your eggs for Easter Sunday, you can take time to celebrate this lesser-known holiday in Holy Week. Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, is just one of the spring holidays that many Christians celebrate in the week leading up to Easter. There are many traditional ways to honor this day at home or at a church.
Whether you take part in celebrations on your own, with friends and family or are just curious to learn a little more about the Christian religion, here are a few things to know about Maundy Thursday.
What is Maundy Thursday?
Maundy Thursday recognizes the day of Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples as described in the Gospel of Luke. During the meal, Jesus washed his disciples' feet and gave the commandment "Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another."
When is Maundy Thursday 2024?
Maundy Thursday is always the Thursday of Holy Week, which is the week leading up to Easter. This year it falls on March 28.
What does 'maundy' mean?
According to Dictionary.com, maundy is “the ceremony of washing the feet of the poor," typically referring to Jesus washing his disciples' feet.
How is Maundy Thursday celebrated?
Many churches hold a communion service in observation of this day. During this service, attendants are encouraged to take the eucharist, the bread and wine symbolizing Jesus' body and blood.
Since the Last Supper was a Seder supper, a meal typically eaten on the first day of Passover, another tradition you can participate in on Maundy Thursday is eating your own Seder supper. Seder suppers vary across religions, but this meal always consists of ingredients with spiritual significance.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What is Maundy Thursday? Here's what to know
