Holy Thursday: History, Facts & Insights

This is an in-depth look at all the must-know facts about Holy Thursday (2024) 🗓️ that no one tells you about. Holy Thursday is celebrated on April 6th.

Among the information you’ll find below: the history of Holy Thursday, activities to do on and how to observe this holiday, as well as fun facts you may want to know about Holy Thursday.

📅 What day is Holy Thursday 2024?

In 2024, Holy Thursday is on Thursday, April 6th. It is the 1st Thursday in April; in 2024, it is Saturday. There are until the next observance. You also can view all the exciting details and facts about April 6, 2023, that you might not be aware of.

Every year on the Thursday before Easter, which is on April 6 this year, Holy Thursday is observed. It is also referred to as Maundy Thursday, Green Thursday (in Germany), and Sheer Thursday. This is a significant event in the Catholic culture where Christians come together to celebrate Jesus Christ’s Last Supper with his disciples, as described in the Bible. While the Last Supper is remembered during every Mass, Holy Thursday is a special day dedicated to honoring this biblical event and its spiritual significance. It serves as a reminder for Christians that Jesus was betrayed and ultimately crucified the following day.

📜 Holy Thursday History

Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, gets its name from the Latin word “mandatum,” meaning “mandate.” This refers to the new commandment given by Christ to love one another. The current celebration of Holy Thursday dates back to Pope Pius XII’s changes to the Holy Week liturgy in 1955.

Since the first Holy Thursday service in 1956, there are now two church services held. One is the “Christ Mass,” typically in the morning, where the bishop or priest blesses holy oils called “chrisms” used in sacraments like baptism. The other ceremony, usually held in the evening, is the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. During this service, the priest performs the washing of feet ceremony, symbolizing Christ washing the feet of his disciples. In the past, women were not allowed to participate in this ritual, but in 1987, they were included in the United States, and the number of participants has expanded since then.

✅ Holy Thursday Facts

🔖 Jesus liked praying alone
Jesus enjoyed praying and having solitude in the Eremos cave.

🔖 Jesus had siblings?
The gospels of Matthew and Mark mention individuals referred to as the “brothers of the Lord.”

🔖 He was an average Middle Eastern man
According to a number of anthropologists, Jesus had the physical characteristics commonly found in Middle Eastern individuals, including brown eyes, black hair, and an olive complexion.

👍 Why Is Holy Thursday Important

Holy Thursday allows us to express our love and devotion to Christ. We get to demonstrate that we respect his lessons and will remember them.

Holy Thursday events assist in strengthening the Christian community and establishing ties among its members, just as Christ intended. As a result, we must continue to commemorate this occasion.

Holy Thursday is an excellent chance for evangelization. It is an opportunity to share our beliefs with more people.

🙂 How To Observe Holy Thursday

⚡ Wash each other’s feet

⚡ Attend a church service
To mark this event, you can choose to participate in either the Chrism Mass held in the morning or the Lord’s Supper Mass in the evening at the chapel. Additionally, you may also dedicate some time to engage in the practice of praying the rosary.

⚡ Have a special memorial dinner
You can demonstrate humility by mimicking Christ’s act of washing his disciples’ feet. Family members might rejoice by washing each other’s feet.

📅 When is Holy Thursday?

See all 🔗 April holidays, including 🔗 Religious and other 🔗 Catholic holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and must-know facts about Holy Thursday. So be sure to check back soon.