Maundy Thursday. The Thursday before Easter. It celebrates Jesus' institution of the eucharist at the Last Supper on that day. The English name ‘Maundy’ derives from a Latin antiphon Mandatum novum (‘a new commandment’, John 13. 34) sung on this day. The royal Maundy Ceremony in the UK, in which the reigning sovereign distributes Maundy money to twelve deserving and (relatively) poor people, has lost all contact with the original commemoration.

Maundy Thursday In the Christian liturgical calendar, the day before Good Friday, commemorating the institution of the Eucharist and the washing of the disciples' feet by Jesus, as described in the Gospel according to Saint John. In the UK, the day is marked by a ceremony in which the reigning monarch distributes specially minted silver coins to selected pensioners.

Maun·dy Thurs·day / ˈmôndē/ • n. the Thursday before Easter, observed in the Christian Church as a commemoration of the Last Supper.