On the of Maundy Thursday, one may gain a plenary indulgence,
under the usual conditions, by reciting the Tantum Ergo (Down in Adoration
Falling).
Here are a few more customs of the Maundy
Thursday from around the world:
* The Maundy Thursday celebrations in
the United Kingdom today involve the Monarch (since 1952, Queen Elizabeth II)
offering "alms" to deserving senior citizens (one man and one woman
for each year of the sovereign's age). These coins, known as Maundy money or
Royal Maundy, are distributed in red and white purses. This custom dates back
to King Edward I. The red purse contains regular currency and is given in place
of food and clothing. The white purse contains currency in the amount of one
penny for each year of the Sovereign's age. Since 1822, rather than ordinary
money, the Sovereign gives out Maundy coins. which are specially minted 1, 2,
3 and 4 penny pieces, and are legal tender. The service at which this takes
place rotates around English and Welsh churches, though in 2008 it took place
for the first time in Northern Ireland at Armagh Cathedral. Until the death
of King James II, the Monarch would also wash the feet of the selected poor
people. There is an old sketch, done from life, of Queen Elizabeth I washing
people's feet on Maundy Thursday.
* The popular German name Gründonnerstag
means either "mourning Thursday" or "green Thursday". Other
names are Hoher, Heiliger, and Weißer Donnerstag (High, Holy and White
Thursday, with "white" referring to the liturgical colour associated
with Maundy Thursday).
* In the Czech Republic and Slovakia,
the day is called Zelený ctvrtek or Zelený štvrtok respectively,
again meaning "Green Thursday". Because the church bells fall silent
until Holy Saturday, here called "White Saturday", because "they
have flown to Rome", in some regions they are replaced by groups of children
walking round their village and making noise with wooden rattles. People come
out of the door and give them coffee.
Christus, by the Lutheran Lucas Cranach
the Elder. This woodcut of John 13:14-17 is from Passionary of the Christ and
Antichrist.
* In Malta, Holy Thursday is known as
Hamis ix-Xirka (Communion Thursday) and the a tradition of visiting seven churches
(see below) is called is-seba' visti.
* In Sweden Maundy Thursday (skärtorsdagen)
is connected to old folklore as the day of the witches. Young children often
dress up as witches and knock on doors getting coins or candy for easter eggs.
* In Bulgaria Maundy Thursday is called
Veliki Chetvurtuk (Great Thursday), and is traditionally the day when people
color their easter eggs and perform other household chores geared toward preparing
for Razpeti Petuk (Crucifixion Friday), Velika Subota (Great Saturday) and Velikden
(Easter Day).
* In Kerala, the southern most state
of India where the Syrian Christians or Nasranis are in high population observes
this day with great reverence. This day is called as Pesaha, a syriac word commemorating
the last supper of Jesus Christ. This is also a state wide declared public holiday
by the Government of Kerala. The tradition of Pesaha appam or Indariyappam is
observed by the entire Nasrani people till this day. Special long services followed
by Holy Qurbana are conducted during the Pesaha eve or at mid-night till morning
in the Syrian Christian churches.
* In the predominantly Catholic Philippines,
most business establishments cease operations from Maundy Thursday to Black
Saturday. Most malls, however, resume their operations on Black Saturday. Televisions
and radio stations are shut off during that period; should they wish to continue
airing they usually broadcast special shows, usually themed for the Holy Week,
which were not on their usual schedule. (Cable channels usually continue their
normal telecasts as usual.) Newspapers usually had no issues during those days.
Visiting seven churches
* The tradition of visiting seven churches on Holy Thursday
is an ancient practice, probably originating in Rome, where early pilgrims visited
the seven pilgrim churches as penance. They are Saint John Lateran, Saint Peter,
Saint Mary Major, Saint Paul-outside-the-Walls, Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls,
Holy Cross-in-Jerusalem, and traditionally Saint Sebastian Outside the Walls.
Pope John Paul II replaced St. Sebastian with the Sanctuary of the Madonna of
Divine Love for the jubilee year of 2000.
* In the Philippines, the faithful carry out this tradition
of Visita Iglesia (Spanish: Church visits) and some expand it to include fourteen
churches and say the Stations of the Cross, with one station in each church.
