Why is it called Maundy Thursday? Learn about Good Friday, Easter and Christian Holy Week

Lent and the time of fasting for many Christians worldwide is coming to an end, which means Easter and the Holy Week leading up to it are almost here.

While Easter is a recognized and celebrated holiday by many, for Christians there is an entire week of celebrations leading up to the day celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Here's what to know about Holy Week, which includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and culminates with Easter Sunday.

2024 Holy Week timeline

Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, according to Trinity College. In many Christian faiths, it resumes with Holy Wednesday, or Spy Wednesday, before entering into the Triduum. The Triduum of Holy Week includes Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday, with Easter taking place the following day.

When does Lent end 2024?

The end date for lent varies by faith denomination. In some faiths', Lent ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. For others, such as Roman Catholicism, Lent ends at sundown on Thursday, March 28, 2024, known as Maundy, or Holy, Thursday. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.

When do Christians fast for Lent, Holy Week?

Christians are obligated to fast and abstain on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, as well as fast from meat on Fridays during Lent, according to Catholic Online.

When is Palm Sunday 2024?

Palm Sunday is on Sunday, March 24, 2024, according to Time and Date.

Palm Sunday meaning

Palm Sunday marks the start of Holy Week and commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. As Jesus entered the city, crowds greeted him by waiving palm branches, which is where the name Palm Sunday originated from. The event, recorded in all four Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John — marked the beginning of the end of Jesus' time on Earth.

According to Time and Date, palm leaves symbolize victory and joy among many Christians in the United States, as Jesus died on the cross for the sins of others. Some churches use silk plant leaves or olive branches on Palm Sunday, as palm branches can be difficult to find in some areas in the U.S.

How is Palm Sunday celebrated?

Palm Sunday, recognized mostly by Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christians, is typically celebrated by recalling the Scripture of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. The Palm Sunday also includes a reading of the Passion, the story of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus.

According to Brandeis University, it's also a reminder for Christians to welcome Jesus into their hearts and to be willing to follow him.

When is Maundy Thursday 2024?

Maundy Thursday is Thursday, March 28, 2024, according to Time and Date.

Holy Thursday 2024 date

Holy Thursday is on Thursday, March 28, 2024.

Why is it called Maundy Thursday?

Holy Thursday is often used interchangeably with Maundy Thursday, as the word comes from a phrase spoken at the Last Supper, which Holy Thursday commemorates.

The word “maundy” comes from the Latin phrase “mandatum,” meaning commandment, which was spoken by Jesus at the Last Supper, according to Catholic Culture.

Holy Thursday, Maundy Thursday meaning

The Last Supper, recognized on Holy Thursday, refers to the last meal Jesus ate with his disciples prior to his trial and crucifixion, around the time of the Hebrew Passover.

During the meal, he used wine and bread to represent his body and blood, blessing it and giving it to his disciples, laying the foundation of what would become the Eucharist, according to Alimentarium. Jesus also washed the feet of his disciples and shared a foreshadowing of Judas’ betrayal at the Garden of Gethsemane.

Can you eat meat on Holy Thursday?

Yes. Holy Thursday isn't considered a day of fasting or abstinence. However, it can also be a personal choice, with many deciding to continue their fast through Holy Week.

When is Good Friday 2024?

Good Friday is on March 29, 2024, according to Christianity.com.

Good Friday meaning: What does Good Friday celebrate?

Good Friday, the Friday before Easter, is dedicated to commemorating the death of Jesus Christ at Calvary. Considered the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus died for the sins of others by crucifixion and was later laid to rest at a nearby tomb.

Scripture says Jesus hung on the cross from noon to 3 p.m., before drawing his last breath. A day of mourning, prayer and fasting, Christians often use the three hours of Jesus' time spent on the cross, as well as the day, to reflect and remember God’s love and promise of eternal life. Furthermore, representing hope and new beginnings, even in the darkest moments.

How to celebrate Good Friday 2024

Good Friday can be commemorated in a variety of ways. Many Christians celebrate it with strict fasting, while others observe a partial fast by not eating meat, according to the Boston Public Library. Some also attend special church services and prayer vigils, or a Good Friday liturgy Friday evening.

Continuously, some view it more joyously while others see it as a sad event. Some Christians take on a somber attitude and maintain a quiet atmosphere in their homes with little to no entertainment or extracurricular activities, while others may play music and bake hot cross buns, a traditional Good Friday sweet.

When is Easter Sunday 2024?

Easter Sunday falls on Sunday, March 31 this year.

Why is Easter so early this year? How is Easter Sunday determined?

While the holiday always falls on a Sunday, Easter usually occurs in April. This year, it falls in March for the first time since 2016.

According to the Farmers Almanac, the most common dates Easter occurred or will occur between 1600 and 2099 is March 31 or April 16.

Easter Sunday always occurs on the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon, or the first Sunday following the full Moon that occurs on or after the March or spring equinox.

Why do we celebrate Easter?

Easter, also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is the holiest day in the Christian calendar. It's a celebration of the most central tenet of the Christian faith — that Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead.

Millions of Christians celebrate the day with church services and prayer.

But Christians aren't the only ones celebrating on that day — others participate in dying brightly colored eggs, filling plastic eggs with candy and hunting the eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny.

Many Christians see the eggs as a symbol of Jesus emerging from the tomb, while others see it as a symbol of the regeneration that comes with springtime.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why is it called Maundy Thursday? Why is Easter so early this year?