Maundy Thursday: when and how to swim. Maundy Thursday - what you can do and what you shouldn’t do on this day according to signs

Today for Orthodox Christians in Khakassia before Easter is Maundy (Clean) Thursday.

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Here's what you absolutely can't do on Maundy Thursday:

Starting from Thursday and until Easter, you cannot take anything out of the house, especially on credit. Don’t give, no matter how much someone asks: neither money nor any things to “use.” This is a bad omen. You cannot even share kitchen utensils or food with relatives or neighbors.

You cannot leave soaked laundry that you haven’t had time to wash or unwashed dishes overnight from Maundy Thursday to Good Friday.

As on the other days of Holy Week, on Thursday you cannot tell fortunes, have fun, celebrate holidays, sing or dance. You cannot eat fast food on this day.

What it is VERY advisable to do:

It is critically important to start cleaning on this day in the morning. So even if you don’t have time and you go to work that day, clean up at least something at home first! You can, for example, wash the dishes and take out the trash... The bravest ones can take a swim on Maundy Thursday. Our ancestors believed that this ritual would help “wash away all diseases.”

Maundy Thursday is the best day of the year to cut your little children's hair for the first time. Peasants used to shear livestock even on this day for good luck.

So that you have money for the future, count it all on this day, three times! If possible, you can also shoot a gun or at least rearrange the furniture...

This is the best day to remove the damage caused by enemies. You just need to wash your face early in the morning, before dawn. At the same time, you need to say the words of an elementary prayer:

“I wash away what they put on me, what toils my soul and body, everything is removed on Clean Thursday. Amen".

If you are a single woman, then in order to find your happiness, on this day when washing your body you need to say a prayer:

“As Maundy Thursday is bright and red, so I, slave (name), will be beautiful to everyone. Amen".

According to calend.ru, during services on this day they remember one of the most important gospel events: the Last Supper, at which Jesus Christ washed the feet of his disciples, thereby showing an example of brotherly love and humility. According to the Gospel, at the Last Supper, Jesus Christ established the rite of the Eucharist - Holy Communion. This rite is recognized by all Christians - Orthodox, Catholics, Lutherans - believers eat wine and bread, meaning by them the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. From Maundy Thursday until Sunday, in all Orthodox churches, church services are dedicated to memories of the earthly suffering of the Savior.

Preparations for Easter begin on Maundy Thursday. Believers need to come to churches, confess and receive communion. They clean the house, bake Easter cakes, and paint eggs.

On Maundy Thursday, it is customary to get up before sunrise and take a bath - symbolically to cleanse yourself of sins and vanity. On Maundy Thursday, Russian peasants cleaned the house, yard and garden of the rubbish, dirt and dust that had accumulated over the winter. First of all, icons and lamps were renewed and washed. Then they carefully washed the floors, walls, ceilings of the hut, the table and benches, scrubbed with sand, and scraped with a knife.

People said:

“If you wash yourself and wash yourself on Maundy Thursday, the hut will be clean all year long.”

After the cleaning carried out on Maundy Thursday, the houses were not cleaned or the floors were mopped until Easter, so as not to “clog the eyes of Christ lying in the tomb.” In some areas, on this day they washed all the dishes in the house, and milk jugs were also fumigated with women’s hair, explaining the importance of this activity by the fact that the dishes were desecrated by the touch of Judas the Traitor. On this day, a big wash was done - all clothes, bed linen, tablecloths, curtains and towels, as well as rugs, rugs and bedding were washed. Everything was taken out to dry in the yard, and the whole family on the night from Thursday to Friday went to bed on “pea straw,” which was spread on the floor. In the Russian North, for example, mothers taught their daughters, and mothers-in-law taught their daughters-in-law:

“Everything needs to be washed, even the little footcloth and she’s happy about Easter.”

Easter is the main holiday of all Christians in the world. This day is expected and prepared for in advance. What should be done on Maundy Thursday before Easter, what magical rituals? Maundy Thursday is considered no less significant a day than Sunday, so this time is favorable for performing many magical rituals to attract health and financial well-being. In 2018, Maundy Thursday falls on April 5th.

To attract money, you can do the following rituals on Maundy Thursday. Count all your money three times - this will attract financial well-being for the whole year. You need to count at special times:

at sunrise;
exactly at noon;
at sunset.

The ritual must be carried out in secret from everyone in order for it to be of any use. You cannot count money in front of witnesses, even in front of household members.

Starting from Maundy Thursday and until Sunday itself, you cannot give anything from home - no bread, no salt, no butter. This will protect your well-being from being stolen.

If you rearrange objects from place to place, then money will be found throughout the year. The more items you rearrange, the more prosperous the year will be.

Money ritual on Maundy Thursday

To keep the money flowing throughout the year, the following ritual is performed. Take different coins numbering 12 and throw them into a clean bucket. Pour water and read the plot. Then you need to wash the floors throughout the house with this water. But before washing the floors, doors, window frames, window sills and tables are washed with water.

The spell is read in a special way - you need to clasp your little fingers and read the spell words exactly 33 times. However, you cannot count the number of times you read it. You can come up with some tags to know the exact number of readings. For example, move 33 matches on the floor with your foot. You can come up with another counting method.

Ask all household members to leave the premises during the ceremony; pets must also be removed. They wash the floors from the threshold, moving towards the far corner of the room. You should know that performing the ritual inaccurately will not bring the desired result. Therefore, follow all the indicated points exactly. The plot can be read from a note made in one’s own hand—printed text will not work.

What then to do with coins and water? Collect the money and put it in the farthest corner of the house until next Thursday. Water should be poured under the roots of the tree. It is best if it is a fruit-bearing tree or a feminine tree - birch, alder, willow.

Health and youth

To be healthy all year round, you need to wash yourself on Maundy Thursday. Previously, all Orthodox Christians took a steam bath and even bathed piglets.

On Maundy Thursday, you must definitely prepare Thursday salt, which is useful for healing from illnesses and removing magical negativity. The easiest way to prepare Strong Salt is to pour it into a canvas bag. Let each family member take a handful of table salt and pour it into a common bag. Then the salt was taken to the Temple and consecrated openly along with the Easter cakes.

There are other ways to prepare salt; they can also be used. For example, they calcined salt in a frying pan and mixed it with poppy seeds. After consecration in the church, this salt acquired powerful power to cleanse from damage and negativity, and also served as a talisman against evil. If trouble came to the house, salt was poured into all corners. And to attract wealth, a little salt was poured into wallets.

You cannot paint eggs on Thursday - this is done the day before on Tuesday or Friday. On Thursday they bake Easter cakes, and they try to do it before lunch. People believed that on this day all the water on earth was purified and sanctified, and even every puddle became sanctified.

Get rid of illness and damage

On Maundy Thursday you can get rid of the spell of illness. To do this, they go to the cemetery with salt and find the grave of a man who died exactly a year ago. A memorial is placed on the grave - kutya, pancakes, 3 eggs. Then they bow to the grave and read the plot three times:

Swimming for health

To improve your health, you need to take advantage of the life-giving power of water. To do this, on Wednesday you need to go to a pond and scoop up water with a new mug. After this, you should cross yourself three times, bring the water home and cover it with a clean towel.

When the clock strikes 2 am, you need to cross yourself three times again and pour water on yourself - on your head and body. You cannot dry yourself - put clothes on your wet body. The rest of the water must be poured into a flower pot. After this ritual, people feel how their whole body has become younger! Don't forget to read a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord.

It is good for your health to swim before sunrise on Maundy Thursday. You don’t have to say anything - the water acquires healing properties and itself cleanses the body of disease and damage.

The week before Easter is a special time. Therefore, people often wonder what needs to be done on each day of Holy Week, including Maundy Thursday. For example, is it possible to clean, how to wash properly, and in general what does this day before Easter mean – Maundy Thursday? Folk traditions and their modern understanding, comments from church representatives - all this can be found in our article.

In 2018, this day falls on April 5, and Easter Sunday, i.e. Easter itself is on April 8. Maundy Thursday is also called: Holy Thursday; Maundy Thursday. The thing is that this is the 4th day of the so-called Holy (Red, Great) week - the last time of Christ’s earthly life. After all, on Friday he will be unjustly accused and executed, and on Easter he will be resurrected. This will become the main event of Christianity, which has been solemnly celebrated by all believers for 2 millennia. Therefore, if we talk about what Maundy Thursday before Easter means, we can say that it is rather not a holiday, but the last day of the Savior’s earthly life.

And it is called clean because it was on this evening that Christ washed the feet of all his 12 disciples during supper. That is, he literally took a vessel with water, a towel and washed everyone’s feet. The Lord never performed such an action in his earthly life. And it is clear that there is some unique, even touching moment in this episode. By washing his feet, Christ wanted to show that he came into the world precisely to serve. Yes, believers still worship him to this day as the Son of God. But at the same time, the Lord himself wanted to be known as a servant who came to the aid of sinful humanity.

There is also a very delicate, elegant detail in this story. After all, as you know, the East is a delicate matter. Since ancient times, in the countries of this region, washing feet was considered a normal phenomenon, a unique custom. When a distant guest came to the house, the owner, as a sign of his goodwill, poured water, took a towel and performed this pleasant, relaxing procedure. Thus, Christ showed his affection for the disciples. And he clearly demonstrated the idea of serving people, giving an example to all of humanity.

What to do on Maundy Thursday before Easter: 5 traditions
That is why for several centuries (if not millennia), people have decided to go to the bathhouse with the whole family on Maundy Thursday before Easter and bathe, keeping their body perfectly clean. True, there is an interesting detail here: water procedures should be performed before sunrise.

It is believed that it is at this time that water acquires the greatest healing power, just as it does on the night of Epiphany. And in general, the anticipation of a holiday is sometimes the holiday itself. Therefore, they try to go to the baths on the night from Wednesday to Thursday.

It is believed that before bathing, even if it is purely symbolic, you must certainly say a prayer of gratitude, at least mentally. There is some truth in this: a positive perception of life really helps a person tune in to a pleasant wave and start his day, getting up, as they say, on the right foot.

Here’s what else they do on Maundy Thursday before Easter according to folk traditions:
Of course, not everyone can go to the bathhouse in modern conditions. But a silver spoon or other utensils made of this noble metal should probably be found in many homes. If you fill a silver bowl with water and wash your face with it in the morning (again, better before sunrise), you will receive a charge of vigor and health for the whole year. You can simply put a silver spoon in a vessel of water and wash your face.
You need to cleanse not only your body, but the whole house. On Maundy Thursday they try to get rid of all the trash, old things that have not been used for a long time. They remove garbage, wash the floor, sweep away small cobwebs. In a word, they restore perfect order. It is believed that it is no longer possible to clean the house until Easter, so it is better to try right away.

Housewives are not forbidden to sew, wash and do other household chores on Maundy Thursday, and it is better to do them before the evening.
And what else needs to be done on Maundy Thursday before Easter - boil eggs in the evening, color them, knead the dough, and then bake the Easter cakes. The pasochki will not go stale if you prepare them using the correct technology. But it is not advisable to cook on Good Friday and Holy Saturday - these are the most intense, dramatic days of Holy Week. On Friday, as already mentioned, the crucifixion of Christ took place, and on Saturday night the lifeless body of the Savior was placed in the tomb.

Also on this day, the so-called Thursday salt is prepared. It is prepared on the basis of ordinary salt - the crystals are mixed with the soggy crumb of rye bread or with the grounds that remain after the kvass has settled. It is believed that it will serve as an excellent amulet for the whole family, and will be valid for a whole year. Therefore, such salt should be stored in a place of honor.

On Maundy Thursday, they also make peculiar conspiracies for money and for the betrothed. For example, you can put a silver coin in water overnight and then hide it in your wallet for a whole year. Or take a piece of soap and say the name of your loved one, saying: “(Name) sticks to me like soap.” Of course, these traditions are more likely to be folk than church traditions. However, there is nothing wrong with a person’s very desire to find love and live in abundance.

What not to do on Maundy Thursday before Easter
Of course, just by the name of the holiday you can certainly say that on this day you should not forget about your hygiene. It is very important to carry out general cleaning, because if the house remains untidy, the owners will not be able to recharge with the positive energy of freshness, cleanliness and prepare for Easter.

Here are some other prohibitions:
When the apartment has been cleaned, if possible, it is better to pour out the dirty water somewhere outside the house. The best place is on a rocky surface where nothing grows. After all, with dirt comes negative energy, which must leave the house for a long time.
There is also an interesting belief about what people do on Thursday before Easter. It is believed that lending, as well as borrowing, is undesirable. And in general, if on this day you give away something valuable (for example, a souvenir or a book), then this is a bad sign - it is better to choose any other day for gifts.

Of course, it is intuitively clear that since this day was the last in the earthly life of Christ, it is better not to arrange any lavish feasts, not to abuse alcohol and other earthly pleasures. After all, in a few hours Judas will betray the Savior, and then Jesus will be crucified. Therefore, it is better to wait until Easter if possible to have fun.

And here’s another interesting point - it is prohibited to take samples from Easter cakes, eggs and other holiday dishes. Of course, this rule applies to a greater extent to churchgoers who observe Lent. However, those who have not fasted can also heed the advice.

It is clear that Maundy Thursday is a pure, truly bright day, therefore there are no strict prohibitions as such. Each person can act in accordance with the circumstances and, of course, according to his own conscience.

What can you eat on Maundy Thursday?
From the point of view of fasting, Holy Week is considered the most strict - for example, on Friday and Saturday, eating food other than bread and water is generally prohibited. But on Thursday the requirements are a little softer. The so-called dry eating is allowed - you can eat plant foods without any oil (including sunflower, olive, etc.). Another important point is that hot dishes are prohibited.

That is, you can eat bread, unsweetened pastries, soaked fruits and vegetables, etc. And any meat, fish, or hot dishes are prohibited for fasting people.

At the same time, the church does not consider certain concessions for pregnant and lactating women, the elderly and children to be a sin. And also for everyone who suffers from diseases of the digestive system. That is, again, fasting is a matter of conscience and the real capabilities of the human body.

Today, April 5, 2018, Orthodox Christians celebrate the fourth day of Holy Week, called Maundy Thursday. The signs and customs of this day were formed in ancient times. They are closely connected by the biblical narrative, as well as the upcoming Easter holiday, which fell on April 8 this year.

Maundy Thursday 2018 - the history of the holiday

On Thursday, which falls on the last, sixth week of Lent, the Last Supper is remembered in all Orthodox churches, churches and monasteries. On it, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, gave communion to all his disciples and washed their feet - as a sign of the universal equality of all people before God. To this day, ablution is considered the main tradition of Maundy Thursday. On this day, all believers try to go to a bathhouse, sauna, or just a bath to cleanse not only their body, but also their soul from negative energy.

Maundy Thursday - what you can and cannot do on this day

On Maundy Thursday, it is customary to get up before dawn to ensure a long and productive day. On this holiday, according to popular belief, all the water on Earth acquires healing properties, so our great-grandmothers went to the bathhouse with their whole families in the morning. Naturally, in the reality of the modern world this is unlikely to be done, but you should not neglect going to the shower in the morning and going to the bath in the evening. Remember that in the morning you should wash with the coolest possible water - its freshness symbolizes the cleansing of “the flesh from filth”, and also helps to recharge your batteries before the upcoming cleaning for the whole day.

Answering the question of what can be done on Maundy Thursday, all Orthodox Christians agree: you can do any household chores, general cleaning and cleansing your thoughts of negativity. Here is a sample list of household chores that should be completed on Maundy Thursday:

Washing floors and doors;
Getting rid of dust in all corners of the home, including hard-to-reach ones;
Disposal of garbage, junk and unnecessary things. If there are things in your wardrobe that you definitely haven’t worn in the last year, then give them away to those in need.
Tea drinking with family and close friends after sunset;
Meditation or simple reflection, with forgiveness of all enemies.

On Maundy Thursday you cannot make noisy holidays, celebrate birthdays with dances and songs, or quarrel. Try to get rid of the oppression of past grievances, cleanse your soul of indignation, and also switch to the energy of creation.

Maundy Thursday - signs and customs

Clean Thursday, which fell on April 5 in 2018, is a great day to carry out rituals to improve the financial well-being of your family, as well as protect it from envy, damage and the evil eye. All folk signs and customs are associated with water, because on this day it acquires special properties. If you decide to hold rituals on Maundy Thursday, you can familiarize yourself with the most common among the people:

In order to always have money in your wallet and increase it, you need to take out all the contents from it, sprinkle it with holy water, and then count the cash banknotes and coins. The recount must be done completely alone - morning, afternoon and evening.
You can make a talisman out of salt for the entire next year. Take a clay pot into which each family member will put three tablespoons of salt. After this, the container is placed in the oven or oven for three hours. It is customary to sprinkle this salt on all Easter treats, and also use it to protect against evil spirits throughout the year. If the salt is not completely used up by next Maundy Thursday, it should be poured into running water.

Also on Maundy Thursday you can bring a wax candle with a singed wick from a church service. Already in the house, you should re-light it and go around all the rooms clockwise, moving the candle in the form of a cross opposite each corner in the apartment. Such a simple ritual on Maundy Thursday will help cleanse your home and also bring positive energy to the family.

Maundy (Maundy) Thursday falls on the last week of Great Lent and marks the beginning of preparations for the bright holiday of the Resurrection of Christ.

Each day of the last week of Lent is dedicated to memories of the last days of Jesus Christ on earth, which in church tradition are called Great or Passionate.

Reproduction of Rubens' painting "The Last Supper"

On Maundy Thursday, during services, four events are remembered at once - the Last Supper, at which Jesus Christ established the Sacrament of the Eucharist (Communion), his washing of the disciples’ feet, his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and the betrayal of Judas.

Maundy Thursday

Since ancient times, Holy Thursday has been considered a day of renewal, endowed with special power, because this day is the harbinger of the grave earthly suffering of Christ, after which the Resurrection will come.

The history of Maundy Thursday, which is associated with the Last Supper - one of the most significant gospel events preceding the crucifixion of Christ, has its roots in early Christianity.

Evangelists say that during the last meal with his disciples, Christ said that he would be betrayed by one of them, captured by the Roman authorities and crucified. Judas sold his teacher for thirty pieces of silver on that distant night.

Maundy Thursday for any Christian is a symbol of complete spiritual and physical cleansing. It was on this day that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, thereby showing an example of brotherly love and humility of a true Christian.

In memory of this, on Maundy Thursday, Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II, according to tradition, washes the feet of twelve priests, as Christ did the apostles.

The clergy explain that the essence of Maundy Thursday is to show how willing people are to be tolerant, sincere and compassionate towards all the people around them.

Eucharist

The main Sacrament of the Church - the Eucharist (Holy Communion) - was established by Jesus Christ at the last meal with the apostles - the Last Supper.

Gathering his closest disciples, Christ gave them wine and broke bread for them with the words: “Take, eat, this is My Body given for you, and My Blood shed for you.”

This rite is recognized by all Christians - Orthodox, Catholics, Lutherans. Believers eat wine and bread, meaning by them the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

From Maundy Thursday to Sunday, in all Orthodox churches, church services are dedicated to memories of the earthly suffering of the Savior. Clean Thursday is a symbolic transition from sinful mortal life to spiritual cleansing.

Therefore, on this day, believers, with the exception of some emergency situations, come to church for worship and partake of the Holy Mysteries of Christ.

It is very important to remember that Maundy Thursday is the beginning of the strictest part of Lent, which continues until Easter. Fasting involves significant restrictions on food, complete abstinence from smoking and drinking alcohol.

Traditions

On Maundy Thursday, according to tradition, it is customary to swim before sunrise in order to symbolically wash away all the sins that have accumulated over the year and move away from the bustle of the world. And then visit the temple to confess and receive communion.

You need to bring a lit candle from church home, trying not to extinguish it along the way. In the old days, it was believed that this candle protected the house from fires and the family from illnesses.

True Christians, paying tribute to the church, on this day also take care of preparing their home for the great holiday. This is a day of thorough house cleaning and laundry. On Friday and Saturday following Thursday, no household chores can be done, otherwise “dust and dirt may get into the eyes of Jesus.”

Church ministers believe that on this day it is important to cleanse your soul, and then take care of the cleanliness of your body and home.

In addition to cleaning, you also need to take care of the Easter table: bake Easter cakes, make Easter cottage cheese, paint eggs. In Georgia, eggs are traditionally painted on Friday afternoon, before sunset.

On this day, Thursday salt is also prepared - ordinary salt is baked in the oven, and then consecrated in the church. This salt has amazing healing properties.

In the old days, Maundy Thursday was a real brewing day - beer was brewed for the whole week in advance.

In the Orthodox tradition, there are many rituals and signs dedicated to Maundy Thursday, including pagan ones, preserved after the adoption of Christianity. They are associated with personal and family well-being, as well as health.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the rituals on Maundy Thursday were performed throughout the day - from dawn to midnight.

Chiakokonoba - the oldest Georgian tradition

The pagan holiday "Chiakokonoba", preserved in Georgia since ancient times and similar to the Slavic night of Ivan Kupala, is celebrated on the night of Maundy Thursday.

On this day, as soon as it gets dark, large bonfires are still lit in some villages. People start jumping over the fire when the main part of it is burned.

Georgians believe that this cleanses from evil spirits. This old tradition brings great joy to children. The Georgian church considers "Chiakokonoba" a manifestation of paganism - fire worship, and opposes its celebration.

Signs and customs

In the old days they believed that washing with silver, that is, with a silver coin or spoon on Maundy Thursday, endows a person not only with good health, but also with beauty. By the way, the most powerful coin was considered to be a stolen one, which was treasured and used in treatment, sorcery and fortune-telling.

Swimming before sunrise will help attract good luck. While bathing, you need to read the following spell: “Water, water, pour down, cleanse my face, cleanse my body and cleanse my soul, fill me with beauty and health.” After this, bathing ends with pouring cool water over yourself from a ladle.

By the way the Easter cakes turned out, one could guess what the whole year would be like until next Easter. If the Easter cakes turned out lush and tasty, the year will be successful. And if baking is not a success, then the year will be difficult.

According to the signs, it was strictly forbidden to give away anything from home on Maundy Thursday, since with this thing you can give away prosperity and peace from your home.

On Maundy Thursday, people wondered about the future. To do this, they took a candle brought from the evening service, lit it and went to the attic - one of the habitats of the brownie. You had to stand there for a while and wait for the home spirit. If a shaggy brownie appeared, then this promised wealth to the family, but if a bald one, then the owners would live in poverty.

You could even ask the devil about the future. To do this, you need to go into the forest, sit on a birch tree (associated with the souls of the dead) or aspen (cursed tree), take off your pectoral cross and call the forest spirit.

People believed that on Holy Thursday the goblin would definitely appear and answer all the questions of the person who dared to talk with the evil spirit.

The material was prepared based on open sources