Maundy Thursday: The Last Supper of Our Lord

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Maundy Thursday is one of the Christian observances of Holy Week, falling the day before Good Friday in the build-up to Easter Sunday each year. Maundy is derived from the Latin word for "command," and refers to Jesus' commandment to the disciples to "Love one another as I have loved you." It is believed to be the day when Jesus washed the feet of the disciples and shared the famous last supper.

Last Supper by Da Vinci

The Last Supper is derived from Jesus' Jewish heritage and his observance of a Jewish holiday. The Last Supper was a Passover Seder, the feast of unleavened bread. Jesus and the disciples are eating unleavened bread. Passover is the Jewish festival commemorating the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, when they left so quickly there was no time for the bread to rise.
Maundy Thursday is also associated with foot-washing. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, an act described in the Gospel of John, chapter 13, as Jesus teaching them to be servants. It's the ultimate act of "servant leadership."
Jesus washing the feet of the disciples 
According to the Bible, Jesus rose from the table and washed the feet of his disciples during the Last Supper. At that time, people would wear open sandals and walked on dirty streets, so the lowest servant would usually wash people's feet. His performing of the Maundy – to an uncomfortable reaction from his followers – was therefore a demonstration of humility and an entreaty for his disciples to always treat each other as equals.
According to the Gospel of John, he told his followers: "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. "For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you."
Jesus's message was made more poignant by the knowledge that Judas would betray him that evening, leading to his arrest and crucifixion.

What is Maundy Money ?

Maundy money tradition is actually from England and its origin dates back to  the reign of Charles II, when the king gave people undated hammered coins in 1662. The coins were a four penny, three penny, two penny and one penny piece. By 1670 the king started giving out a dated set of all four coins.
Maundy Money of a four penny, three penny, two penny and one penny
The tradition of the king or queen washing the feet of the poor faded out in the eighteenth century, but the monarch still gave people food and clothing. Instead of washing people's feet, the Queen marks the date by giving out special commemorative coins called Maundy money, a tradition with its origins in medieval times. By the nineteenth century the tradition had changed again, and the monarch simply gave people the Maundy money.
Since Henry IV, Started a new tradition of giving the same number of gifts as his age and from then the event became known as the Royal Maundy. Queen Elizabeth II turned 93 a few days after last year's event, so bestowed Maundy money on 93 men and 93 women This year's service was also supposed to be taking place at St George's but is likely to be cancelled due to Corona Virus Outbreak.

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