What is the Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter?

The Christian holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter is Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday.

It is observed during Holy Week and commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus with his apostles. Many Christian traditions also connect the day with the washing of the disciples’ feet, an act symbolizing humility and service. Maundy Thursday begins the Paschal Triduum, the three-day observance that continues through Good Friday and Holy Saturday and culminates at Easter.

The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum, meaning “commandment.” It refers to Jesus’ reported instruction to love one another. In different churches, the day may be called Great and Holy Thursday, Covenant Thursday, or Thursday of Mysteries.

The date changes each year because Easter is a movable feast. It can also fall on a different calendar date in Eastern and Western Christianity. “Easter Thursday” is a common mistake: that normally means the Thursday after Easter, not the Thursday before it.