Today is Maundy Thursday, the feast day that commemorates the Last Supper, that final meal that Jesus Christ had with his disciples before his arrest.
You can read all about how what the Tudors did on this day, including details of the foot-washing ceremony, in my article over at the Tudor Society – click here.
One of the rituals associated with Maundy Thursday was the giving of alms, known as “Maundy money”. This was something that Anne Boleyn did when she was queen and you can read more about this in my 2014 article Anne Boleyn and Maundy Thursday and also my article Anne Boleyn and Charity.
Today, 24th March, is also the anniversary of the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603. Here are two articles about this:
- 24 March 1603 – The Death of Queen Elizabeth I
- Sorrow in the City: Reactions to the End of an Age by Heather R. Darsie
Image: Washing of the feet and the Last Supper, panels by Duccio di Buoninsegna, Siena Cathedral.
Is Maundy a traditional catholic celebration or what branch of religion is it most associated with?
It is Christian so is celebrated by lots of different denominations/branches of Christianity – Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox (as Holy Thursday)…
Thanks Claire.I had seen a church in my area celebrating it and wasn’t sure which kind of church it was so I thought it may have been a Catholic branch as I had never heard of a baptist branch having that kind of celebration.The area where I live have many baptist churches so I hadn’t recalled seeing a sign about Maundy on any of those.It sounds like an interesting tradition.I think I recall hearing that the queen today skips the foot washing and gives Maundy money instead.