BIG THURSDAY. Meaning, traditions and customs. What is forbidden to do today

After on Monday and Tuesday, the attention of Christians was focused on the last teachings of Jesus Christ before the crucifixion, and on Wednesday, the Savior was sold to the Pharisees and scribes for 30 pieces of silver, by a relative who wanted to kill him (by here Wednesday being declared a fast day, along with Friday, the day Jesus was crucified), four things are celebrated on Maundy Thursday: the washing of the feet of the apostles by Christ, the Lord’s Supper at which the Sacrament of Communion (Eucharist) was instituted, the prayer from The Garden of Gethsemane and the capture of the Lord by those who wanted to kill him.

Denia for Maundy Thursday is dedicated to the memory of four special events from the Savior’s life: the washing of the disciples’ feet, as an example of humility, the Last Supper, at which the Savior instituted the Sacrament of Communion, the Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and the beginning of the Passion through the sale of the Lord.

Popular traditions on Holy Thursday

Two foods are totally forbidden by tradition on these days, including Maundy Thursday, even for those who are not actually fasting: vinegar and nettles. It is said that when Jesus was crucified on the cross, he was beaten with nettles, stinging his wounds, and sprinkled with vinegar, to cause even more stings. Moreover, the legend says that when he asked for a few drops of water, the Savior was offered vinegar: hence the popular custom, which excludes the two foods from the list of recommended foods during the last week of fasting.

Tradition says that from this moment the bells are no longer rung, only the bells are rung. In Romanian households today, eggs are fried and cakes and pasca are prepared. Pasca is made from sifted white flour in a special tray. The eggshells used for grazing were not thrown away or burned. They were collected with great care in a special vessel and thrown into running water on Easter Saturday, believing that, in this way, the chickens and chickens would be protected from birds of prey over the summer, according to christianortodox.ro

On Maundy Thursday, in the morning, people usually go to church to confess and receive communion. In the evening, Christians go to the Denia of the 12 Gospels, where they wear mourning clothes, made of white cloth and sewn with black. Also on Maundy Thursday, bread is brought to church, which will be consecrated by the priest, sprinkled with wine and distributed to the parishioners on the night of the Resurrection. In the West, if a family prepares bread for Easter, it is brought with new dishes.

In Oltenia, bonfires for the dead are still made at dawn, in courtyards and/or at graves. It is believed that they represent the fire that Caiaphas’ servants made in the bishop’s court, to warm himself, when Judas sold Christ, or the fire where Saint Peter was stopped, when he denied Jesus Christ.