Following the arrival of Palm Sunday and the start of Holy Week, Christians around the world will prepare to celebrate Easter weekend.
Before Good Friday, there is another significant date that is observed on the Christian calendar: Maundy Thursday.
While the day may not warrant a day off work, it is still a crucial occasion for those that observe Christian teachings in Western and Orthodox churches.
Here’s everything you need to know about Maundy Thursday:
When is it?
Maundy Thursday falls on the fifth day of Holy Week, which commences this year on Palm Sunday. This year, Maundy Thursday takes place on Thursday 9 April.
1/20 Philippines
Willy Salvador, 59, hangs from a cross as part of his penitence during a reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for Good Friday celebrations ahead of Easter in the village of San Juan, Pampanga
Getty images
2/20 Philippines
articipants lie on the ground after whipping their bloodied backs with bamboo as part of their penitence during a ceremony reenacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for Good Friday celebrations ahead of Easter in the village of San Juan.
Getty images
3/20 Philippines
articipants whip their bloodied backs with bamboo as part of their penitence during the re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for Good Friday celebrations ahead of Easter in the village of San Juan.
Getty images
4/20 Hungary
Dancers of ‘Matyo Folklor Art Association’ in traditional clothes, react as boys throw water in Mezokovesd, some 130 km east of Budapest.
Getty images
5/20 Philippines
A resident carries a statue of Jesus Christ to the church in preparation for the Good Friday procession during Holy Week celebration in Gasan, Marinduque.
Reuters
6/20 Philippines
Ruben Enaje, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 30th time, screams while a resident acting as a Roman soldier pulls up a nail on his palm
Reuters
7/20 Philippines
Penitent Ruben Enaje, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 30th time, is carried on a stretcher by rescuers after he was nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion reenactment in Cutud town, Philippines
Reuters
8/20 Mexico
A man holding a rabbit looks at men dressed as ancient Romans as they take part in a procession, during Holy Week celebrations, in Taxco.
Reuters
9/20 South Africa
Nuns carry a cross during a silent march celebrating Good Friday in Durban.
Reuters
10/20 Mexico
Masked penitents prepare before the start of a procession, a part of Holy Week celebrations, in Taxco.
Reuters
11/20 Philippines
Reuters
12/20 Philippines
Penitents locally called “Morions” wear masks and centurion garbs as they take part in a Good Friday procession as part of Holy Week celebration in Gasan, Marinduque.
Reuters
13/20 Philippines
Reuters
14/20 El Salvador
Members of the El Jesus Nazareno brotherhood participate in the Los Cristos Procession as part of Holy Week celebrations in the town of Izalco.
Reuters
15/20 Paraguay
Actors take part in a re-enactment during a Holy Week procession to prepare for Good Friday celebration in Luque city.
Reuters
16/20 Paraguay
Actors take part in a re-enactment during a Holy Week procession to prepare for Good Friday celebration in Luque city.
Reuters
17/20 Peru
Local and foreign inmates participate in a performance of the play Jesus Christ Superstar to celebrate Holy Week at Sarita Colonia prison in Callao.
Reuters
18/20 Philippines
Penitents wearing masks, known locally as “Morions” take a selfie during the start of Holy Week celebrations in Mogpog, Marinduque.
Reuters
19/20 Hungary
Hungary
Reuters
20/20 Philippines
Resident portraying Roman soldier pulls up a nail on a foot of penitent Ruben Enaje in Pampanga, Philippines.
Reuters
1/20 Philippines
Willy Salvador, 59, hangs from a cross as part of his penitence during a reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for Good Friday celebrations ahead of Easter in the village of San Juan, Pampanga
Getty images
2/20 Philippines
articipants lie on the ground after whipping their bloodied backs with bamboo as part of their penitence during a ceremony reenacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for Good Friday celebrations ahead of Easter in the village of San Juan.
Getty images
3/20 Philippines
articipants whip their bloodied backs with bamboo as part of their penitence during the re-enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for Good Friday celebrations ahead of Easter in the village of San Juan.
Getty images
4/20 Hungary
Dancers of ‘Matyo Folklor Art Association’ in traditional clothes, react as boys throw water in Mezokovesd, some 130 km east of Budapest.
Getty images
5/20 Philippines
A resident carries a statue of Jesus Christ to the church in preparation for the Good Friday procession during Holy Week celebration in Gasan, Marinduque.
Reuters
6/20 Philippines
Ruben Enaje, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 30th time, screams while a resident acting as a Roman soldier pulls up a nail on his palm
Reuters
7/20 Philippines
Penitent Ruben Enaje, who is portraying Jesus Christ for the 30th time, is carried on a stretcher by rescuers after he was nailed on a wooden cross during a Good Friday crucifixion reenactment in Cutud town, Philippines
Reuters
8/20 Mexico
A man holding a rabbit looks at men dressed as ancient Romans as they take part in a procession, during Holy Week celebrations, in Taxco.
Reuters
9/20 South Africa
Nuns carry a cross during a silent march celebrating Good Friday in Durban.
Reuters
10/20 Mexico
Masked penitents prepare before the start of a procession, a part of Holy Week celebrations, in Taxco.
Reuters
11/20 Philippines
Reuters
12/20 Philippines
Penitents locally called “Morions” wear masks and centurion garbs as they take part in a Good Friday procession as part of Holy Week celebration in Gasan, Marinduque.
Reuters
13/20 Philippines
Reuters
14/20 El Salvador
Members of the El Jesus Nazareno brotherhood participate in the Los Cristos Procession as part of Holy Week celebrations in the town of Izalco.
Reuters
15/20 Paraguay
Actors take part in a re-enactment during a Holy Week procession to prepare for Good Friday celebration in Luque city.
Reuters
16/20 Paraguay
Actors take part in a re-enactment during a Holy Week procession to prepare for Good Friday celebration in Luque city.
Reuters
17/20 Peru
Local and foreign inmates participate in a performance of the play Jesus Christ Superstar to celebrate Holy Week at Sarita Colonia prison in Callao.
Reuters
18/20 Philippines
Penitents wearing masks, known locally as “Morions” take a selfie during the start of Holy Week celebrations in Mogpog, Marinduque.
Reuters
19/20 Hungary
Hungary
Reuters
20/20 Philippines
Resident portraying Roman soldier pulls up a nail on a foot of penitent Ruben Enaje in Pampanga, Philippines.
Reuters
The day is also recognised by names including Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, Great and Holy Thursday and Thursday of Mysteries.
It is followed by Good Friday (10 April), Holy Saturday (11 April) and Easter Day (12 April), otherwise known as Easter Sunday.
Easter Monday takes place on 13 April, which commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, according to Christian belief.
What does Maundy Thursday commemorate?
On Maundy Thursday, Christians commemorate the day on which Jesus Christ shared the Last Supper with his 12 apostles, prior to his crucifixion.
Jesus is believed to have washed the disciples’ feet before the meal in order to demonstrate the importance of serving others.
The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin word “mandatum” meaning “command”.
According to Christian scripture, Jesus told his followers: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34.
Some believe the Last Supper may have been a Passover meal, due to the inclusion of wine and unleavened bread.
However, it is not explicitly stated that the meal was a traditional Jewish Passover Seder.
During the Last Supper, it is said Jesus fed his followers bread, which was representative of his body, and wine, which was representative of his blood.
The ceremonial practice, known as Communion, Mass or Eucharist, is recognised in the Christian service and involves consecrated bread and wine being distributed to participants in the Catholic mass and in other Christian churches.
Following the supper, Jesus and his followers are believed to have headed to the nearby garden of Gethsemane to pray. Christian scripture reads that Jesus was betrayed that evening by one his disciples, Judas, with a kiss on the cheek and later arrested and taken to trial.
How is it commemorated?
Until 1689, it was customary for the monarch to wash worshippers’ feet in Westminster Abbey, as well as hand out food and clothing
That practice remains a tradition in the Catholic and Armenian Apostolic Churches and is routinely performed by priests.
Believers mark Maundy Thursday by attending mass in many Anglican churches across the UK, although this year that will not be possible amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has seen places of worship be closed.
The Queen traditionally attends a Royal Maundy service at one of Britain’s cathedrals or royal chapels.
What is “Maundy money”?
During the Royal Maundy service, it is custom for the monarch to hand out two small leather string purses containing special coins to elderly attendees.
A red purse contains a standard coin, while a white one contains silver Maundy coins, amounting to the same number of pence as the years of the sovereign’s age.
The first Maundy money ceremony took place in the reign of Charles II, when the king gave people undated hammered coins in 1662.
The coins are traditionally made of sterling silver and are designed especially for the service. They are legal tender and highly collectable.
