Thursday in the pre-Easter (Passionate) week has a special meaning for Orthodox Christians. Many traditions, signs and rituals are associated with it. It is also called "Maundy Thursday".
On this day, the church commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, at which Christ washed the feet of his disciples, thereby showing an example of love and humility. Also during the Passover meal, the great sacrament of the Eucharist was established.
- Great Thursday in Russia is associated with various customs. There is an old belief that if you wash yourself on Maundy Thursday before sunrise, your sins will be cleansed and your health will be added.
- Another ritual - at night from Wednesday to Thursday of Holy Week, or early in the morning on Maundy Thursday, they prepared the Thursday salt. This custom has been known since pre-Slavic times, when magical power and healing properties were attributed to this salt. Coarse moistened table salt was mixed with kvass ground or crumb of rye bread soaked in water. The resulting gruel was tied in a rag and placed in a hot oven, or overheated in a frying pan. Then the mixture was pounded in a mortar while reciting prayers. The prepared Thursday salt was consecrated in the altar and kept for the whole year behind the icons. They used quaternary salt in a variety of situations: salted consecrated eggs, ingested with the evil eye and various ailments, given to sick animals, sewn into an amulet and worn on the chest next to a cross.
- It has long been believed that if all the money is counted three times during a clean Thursday, then the family will be provided financial well-being for the next year.
- On Thursday they begin to prepare for Easter. Believing Christians confess and receive communion. They begin to do general cleaning in the house: they wash the windows, throw out unnecessary rubbish, bring comfort and order. In private houses, they clear the garden and yard from the garbage accumulated over the winter.
- Particular attention is paid to the cleanliness of icons and icon lamps. Also, the hostesses arrange a big wash on Thursday. The need for a big cleaning on Maundy Thursday has long been explained by the fact that not only people and nature, but also every thing rejoice in the holiday of the Resurrection of Christ.
- Only after putting things in order in the house and in the yard do believers begin to bake cakes and paint eggs for Easter.
