commandment, reflecting Jesus' words "I give you a new commandment. Love one another as I have loved you " The day comes always between March 19 and April 22, inclusive, and will vary according to whether the Gregorian calendar or the Julian is used. Eastern churches generally use the Julian system. The name is thought to be a Middle English derivation taken from a Latin anthem sung in Roman Catholic Churches on that day: “Mandatum್ novum್ do್ vobis”್ (“a್ new್ commandment್ I್ give್ to್ you”;್ John 13:34). In most European countries, Maundy Thursday is known as Holy Thursday; other names are Green Thursday (Gründonnerstag; common in Germany), from the early practice of giving penitents a green branch as a token for completing their Lenten penance, and Sheer Thursday (clean Thursday), which refers to the ceremonial clearing of altars on this day. Maundy Thursday commemorates
the Last Supper, which Christians consider the institution of Holy Eucharist, also known as the Lord's supper or communion. It is described in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 22. At the Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus breaks bread, saying, "This is my body," and pours wine, saying, "This is my blood." He then asks the disciples to "Do this in remembrance of me." 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 is the ultimate act of "servant leadership." Jesus
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