In 2017, Maundy Thursday – the fourth day of the Holy Week – is on April 13. This day is called "pure" because of the Last Supper, when Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, thereby demonstrating humility, kindness and service to neighbor that must be main virtues of a Christian.
It was in the evening of Maundy Thursday when one of the twelve disciples of Christ – Judas – betrayed him for thirty pieces of silver.
What are the main signs and traditions of Maundy Thursday?
1. Swim (preferably before sunrise). Our ancestors were convinced that morning swim on Maundy Thursday purifies soul and body and helps to stay happy and successful until the next Maundy Thursday.
2. Clean the house. On Maundy Thursday, one should take out of the house garbage, trash, unwanted things, and thereby get rid of negative energy that has accumulated during the year. During a pre-Easter cleaning, there is a chance to find some long lost thing.
3. Bake cakes and paint eggs. In the morning of Maundy Thursday, women would dough for cakes and start baking them in late afternoon.
4. To bring home a candle from church without letting it go out. With the flame of this candle, they would burn a cross on the beam in the house so that "evil avoid the house."
5. Count all the money in the house. If you do it three times, the family will have plenty of money for the whole year.
6. Prepare salt for the Easter table. To do this, take a lump of salt, wrap it in a cloth and put in the oven. When the cloth gets burnt, the salt is ready. After Easter, this salt was placed under the icons – it was believed it has medicinal properties.
What you can not do on Maundy Thursday?
1. You can not lend money or any thing, because you can give your happiness along with it.
2. Also, you can not borrow anything from others.
3. You can not make a mess in the house or elsewhere – because if you do, you will live in dirt and quarrels for the entire year.
4. When baking cakes, you can not break the fast.
Залишити відгук
You must be logged in to post a comment.