Maundy Thursday is the Christian feast on the Thursday before Easter that remembers the Last Supper, when Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples and washed their feet. In 2026 it falls on Thursday 2 April, and it marks the start of the Easter Triduum, the three holiest days in the Christian year leading up to Easter Sunday.
It is one of the quieter, more reflective days of Holy Week, sitting between the palm branches of Palm Sunday and the solemnity of Good Friday. If you are not sure exactly what the day commemorates, why it has such an unusual name, or what the King's "Maundy money" is all about, here is everything you need to know.
When is Maundy Thursday 2026?
Maundy Thursday is always the Thursday before Easter Sunday, so its date moves every year along with Easter. In 2026 it lands on Thursday 2 April. It is the fifth day of Holy Week and the day immediately before Good Friday.
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Here is how the key dates of Holy Week 2026 line up:
Palm Sunday: Sunday 29 March 2026
Maundy Thursday: Thursday 2 April 2026
Good Friday: Friday 3 April 2026
Holy Saturday: Saturday 4 April 2026
Easter Sunday: Sunday 5 April 2026
Easter Monday: Monday 6 April 2026
Because Easter is a moveable feast tied to the lunar calendar, the date can vary by several weeks from one year to the next. Maundy Thursday can fall anywhere from mid-March to late April.
What does Maundy Thursday commemorate?
Maundy Thursday remembers the Last Supper, the final meal Jesus shared with his twelve disciples before he was arrested. During the meal Jesus took bread and wine, blessed them, and shared them, telling his followers to do the same in memory of him after his death. Christians have done so ever since at Holy Communion, which is also known as the Eucharist, the Lord's Supper or Mass.
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According to the Church of England, the day also marks the moment Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, an act normally performed by a servant. He told them to do the same for one another, setting an example of humility and service that Christians still reflect on today.
The day begins the Easter Triduum, the three-day period that runs through Good Friday and Holy Saturday and ends on the evening of Easter Sunday. These are considered the most important days in the entire Christian calendar.
Why is it called "Maundy"?
The name sounds unusual to modern ears, and it has nothing to do with Monday. "Maundy" comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning "commandment". It refers to the words Jesus spoke at the Last Supper, recorded in John's Gospel: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you."
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That single Latin word, mandatum, was sung at early foot-washing ceremonies and gradually shortened in English to "Maundy". So the day is, quite literally, named after the commandment to love one another. It is sometimes also called Holy Thursday or the Thursday of the Lord's Supper.
How is Maundy Thursday celebrated?
For many churches, the heart of the day is the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, traditionally held after dark because, by Jewish reckoning, the new day began at sunset and the Last Supper itself took place in the evening. The service often includes a re-enactment of the foot washing, in which a priest or bishop washes the feet of twelve people chosen to represent the wider community.
The Pope, as head of the Roman Catholic Church, traditionally washes and kisses the feet of twelve people on Maundy Thursday. In many countries, especially across parts of Europe, Latin America and the Philippines, the day is a public holiday and a time for families to gather, reflect and prepare for the solemnity of Good Friday.
It is also a day rich in quiet tradition. Some families mark it with a simple shared meal at home, echoing the Passover supper, before the more sombre tone of Good Friday sets in. After the long, busy run-up to Easter it can be a welcome pause, and a chance to slow down in comfortable clothes such as soft Easter pyjamas for a relaxed evening together.
What is Maundy money and the Royal Maundy Service?
In the United Kingdom, Maundy Thursday has a distinctive royal tradition. In medieval times it was common for kings and queens to take part in the foot washing and to give money and gifts to the poor. Over the centuries this developed into the Royal Maundy Service, in which the reigning monarch distributes specially minted coins known as Maundy money.
According to the BBC, the coins have kept much the same form since 1670. The number of men and women who receive them matches the age of the monarch, and each recipient is chosen to thank them for outstanding Christian service to their local community. Recipients are given two small purses, one red and one white, containing the coins. The service is held at a different cathedral each year, taking the tradition around the country.
Maundy Thursday around the world
While the foot washing and the Last Supper are common threads everywhere, customs differ from country to country. In Spain and Latin America, dramatic processions fill the streets during Holy Week. In parts of northern Europe, Maundy Thursday, or "Green Thursday", is associated with eating green foods and herbs. In the Nordic countries it is a public holiday and, by tradition, a quiet day spent at home with family.
Whatever the local custom, Maundy Thursday shares one purpose across the Christian world: to remember the Last Supper, the commandment to love one another, and the example of humble service that opens the most sacred weekend of the Christian year. Whether you are attending a church service or simply enjoying a calm evening in matching family loungewear, it is a gentle moment of pause before Easter Sunday arrives.
The days that follow
Maundy Thursday is only the beginning of the Easter Triduum. Good Friday follows the next day, remembering the crucifixion, then Holy Saturday, a day of waiting, before the celebration of the resurrection on Easter Sunday. Together these days form the climax of Holy Week and the heart of the Christian year. If you are planning ahead for the long weekend, comfortable cosy pyjamas for those slower, stay-at-home mornings make the whole season a little more relaxed.
Maundy Thursday at a glance
Maundy Thursday 2026 falls on Thursday 2 April
It is the 5th day of Holy Week and the day before Good Friday
The name comes from the Latin mandatum, meaning commandment
Maundy money coins have kept much the same form since 1670
The number of men and women given Maundy money matches the monarch's age
It begins the Easter Triduum, the 3 holiest days of the Christian year
Frequently asked questions about Maundy Thursday 2026: Meaning, Date & Traditions
Maundy Thursday is a Christian feast on the Thursday before Easter that remembers the Last Supper, when Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples and washed their feet. It marks the start of the Easter Triduum, the three holiest days of the Christian year, and recalls Jesus' commandment to love one another.
In 2026 Maundy Thursday falls on Thursday 2 April. It is always the Thursday before Easter Sunday, so the date moves each year with Easter. Good Friday follows on 3 April and Easter Sunday is on 5 April 2026.
The name comes from the Latin word mandatum, meaning commandment. It refers to Jesus' words at the Last Supper: 'A new commandment I give you, that you love one another.' Over time mandatum was shortened in English to Maundy. The day is also known as Holy Thursday.
Maundy money is a set of specially minted coins handed out by the British monarch at the Royal Maundy Service. The coins have kept much the same form since 1670. The number of men and women who receive them matches the monarch's age, and recipients are chosen to thank them for outstanding Christian service in their community.
There is no single set menu, but many families mark the day with a simple shared meal at home that echoes the Passover supper of the Last Supper. In some countries Maundy Thursday is also known as Green Thursday, when green foods and fresh spring herbs are traditionally eaten.
Maundy Thursday remembers the Last Supper and the washing of the disciples' feet, and begins the Easter Triduum. Good Friday, the very next day, remembers the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Together with Holy Saturday they lead up to the celebration of the resurrection on Easter Sunday.
