Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday, Thursday of Mysteries, Sheer Thursday and the Thursday before Easter observes the institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper. In most European countries, Maundy Thursday is known as Holy Thursday or Green Thursday (Gründonnerstag; common in Germany), from the early practice of giving penitents a green branch as a token for completing their Lenten penance, and Sheer Thursday (clean Thursday), which refers to the ceremonial washing of altars on this day.

The word Maundy comes from the latin, 'mandatum', or 'command' which refers to the instructions Jesus gave his disciples at the Last Supper. 

Maundy Thursday initiates the Easter Triduum, which includes Good Friday and Holy Saturday and ends on the evening of Easter. 

There are many Maundy Thursday traditions;


The Queen gives Maundy Money to nominated pensioners. 

Some people engage in a ritual of washing their feet re-enacting Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. 

Germans celebrating the holiday eat a traditional dish called Gründonnerstagssuppe — a green soup made of spinach, parsley, green onions, cucumber and dill. Green foods specifically are eaten because of the link between the word green and the German word for "grief" or "weeping." Many families would eat only green vegetables as a way of humbling themselves before God.

In central Brazil some penitents attend the "Procession of the Torches”

In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, groups of children shake with wooden rattles in the place of the church bell. 

In some countries there is a tradition of people visiting seven churches as a sign of penance. 

In Sweden the day is related to the day of witches, a time when children dress as witches and knock on doors to get sweets.