Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter. It is believed to be the day when Jesus celebrated his final Passover with His disciples.
During that meal, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples in a display of humility, then commanded them to do the same for each other.
Many churches observe Maundy Thursday with a Communion service and a foot-washing ceremony.
Good Friday is the day for Christians to commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion. On this day, according to the Bible, the Jewish religious leaders brought him to the Romans for sentencing.
He was sent from Pontius Pilate to Herod and then back to Pilate, who ultimately sentenced Jesus to crucifixion. Jesus was then beaten, forced to carry a heavy wooden cross, and finally nailed to it by his wrists and feet, where he hung until he died later that day.
This year, Good Friday falls on April 7. Easter falls on Sunday, April 9.
Good Friday is a day for reflection. Each Friday before Easter, Christians solemnly honor the way Jesus suffered and died for their sins. They might attend a church service that recounts Jesus’s painful crucifixion.
Catholic churches strip their altars bare as a sign of mourning.
Christians, however, soon turn to happier festivities. On the following Sunday, they celebrate Easter—the day of Jesus’s resurrection—with church services, and joyous songs.
They may also share Easter wishes, Easter quotes, and Bible quotes with loved ones. Others spend this time with friends and family in celebration.
BY NKATHA WAINAINA