Commercial presentation Update: 03/28/2024 00:30
Issued by: 28/03/2024, 00:30
Prague – Today is Maundy Thursday. According to Christian tradition, on this day Jesus Christ had his last meal with the apostles, prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and was captured. With evening comes the Easter triduum, which includes Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. Easter is the peak of the church year and the biggest Christian holiday.
Maundy Thursday is the first day when Christ’s three-day suffering and resurrection are commemorated. The epithet green was probably given by a corruption of the original German name Greindonnerstag, i.e. lazy Thursday, to Gründonnerstag – green Thursday. It is also a day of forgiveness, when repentant sinners used to be accepted back into the fold. These penitents were likened to dry branches that became green again through repentance. This is also one of the possible interpretations of the name Green Thursday.
The tradition is to eat mainly green dishes such as cabbage, spinach and peas on Maundy Thursday. Nettles are also popular. People believe that food made from these ingredients will guarantee them good health. Also, no one should quarrel or borrow anything on Maundy Thursday, so as to avoid quarrels and not be short of money. Inherently associated with Maundy Thursday is the tradition that the bells fly to Rome and are replaced by rattles. The bells ring again on Holy Saturday.
In the Czech lands, Judas is baked on Maundy Thursday, which is an Easter leavened pastry. It is made into various shapes – buns, pretzels, braids, wreaths, but most often braided ropes. They were supposed to resemble the rope on which Judas, who betrayed Jesus Christ on Maundy Thursday and handed him over to the Roman soldiers, eventually hanged himself out of despair over his deed.
There are usually two liturgical ceremonies on Maundy Thursday. In the morning, priests meet their bishops in cathedrals and renew their priestly vows. The evening ceremony expresses two main events. Jesus’ farewell dinner, during which he washes the feet of the apostles and institutes the mystery of the Eucharist, as well as Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and his captivity. Those interested can find an overview of the main services in individual dioceses on the website of the Czech Bishops’ Conference.
Maundy Thursday is followed by Good Friday, the commemoration of the day Christ died on the cross. White Saturday, the day of Christ in the tomb, passes through night ceremonies on Sunday, when the resurrection is celebrated.
CR Church of Easter
