Maundy Thursday
This is the Thursday before Easter Day.
On Maundy Thursday Christians remember when Jesus ate the Passover meal with his disciples, breaking bread and drinking wine. Christians refer to this meal as the Last Supper.
Many Christians remember the Last Supper by sharing bread and wine together in a church service called Holy Communion, Eucharist or Mass. It is a reminder that Jesus sacrificed his life for mankind.
‘I give you a new commandment; love each other. You must love each other as I have loved you. All people will know that you are my followers if you love one another.’ ( John 13 v 35)
On the night before his death Jesus had a final meal with his friends. Before this festival meal for Passover, Jesus surprised his friends by washing the feet of every person, a task that was normally done by a servant. He wanted to show his followers that they should love one another in humble ways.
Later in the meal, which is known to Christians as ‘The Last Supper’, Jesus passed round bread and wine. He said the bread was his body broken for them and the wine was his blood shed for them. He was telling them that he was going to die and that when they share bread and wine they should remember him. Christians share bread and wine at their church services all year round, but it is even more special on Maundy Thursday. Jesus also told his friends that they should love one another. It was later on this night that Judas betrayed Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. ( Luke 22 v7- 20; Matthew 26 v25; Mark14 v 12 -26; John 13 v 1 -35)
Before 1689 it was customary in England for the king or queen to wash the feet of the poor in Westminster Abbey every Maundy Thursday. They also gave them gifts of food and clothing. In Queen Victoria’s time men received clothing, shoes and stockings and women 35 shillings.
Today rather than wash feet or give clothing our Queen gives out specially made Maundy money in white and red leather purses. The white purse contains silver Maundy coins matching the Queen’s age in pence, 94p, while the red purse contains ordinary money. In 2020 this is given to 94 male and 94 female pensioners, because she is 94 years old this year. The service takes place at a different cathedral or abbey each year and people are chosen to receive the money because of good work they have done in their community.
A lady called Florrie, who lived here in Peter Tavy, had the honour of receiving Maundy money from the Queen.
Although it would be correct to make bread today, I am conscious that not everyone will have bread flour and yeast in their cupboards – so instead we will make…
Easter biscuits.
Ingredients:
200g softened butter /marg
150g caster sugar
2 large egg yolk
440g plain flour
1 level tsp mixed spice
1 level tsp ground cinnamon
2-4 tbsp milk
For traditional currant biscuits:
100g currents
A little caster sugar for sprinkling
For iced biscuits:
1-2tsp lemon juice
250g ocing sugar
Approx. 2 tbsp cold water
Different coloured food colouring
METHOD
- Preheat oven 180C/350F/gas4. Lightly grease 2 baking trays lined with baking parchment.
- Measure the butter and sugar into a bowl and beat together until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk. Sieve flour, spices into bowl. Add enough milk to make a soft dough. Bring together, using your hands to make a soft dough ball.
- Halve the mixture and set one half aside.
- For Current biscuits, add currents to the remaining half of the mixture and knead lightly on floured surface. Rol out to approx. 5mm thick. Cut into rounds or shape of your choosing.place on baking trays. Sprinkle with sugar.
- Bake in oven for approx. 15 mins, or until pale golden brown. Remove and sprinkle little more sugar on top if wanted. Lift on to wire rack to cool.
- For Iced biscuits; knead remaining dough on floured work surface. Roll out to 5mm thick. Cut out using shaped cutters. Place on greased baking trays. Cook for 15 mins, check regularly. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.
- Make icing; pass one tsp of lemon juice through fine sieve, to remove any pips or bits. Mix the icing sugar with the juice, then add slowly the water until a smooth stiff icing formed.
- Divide icing into separate bowls if using different colours. Add colouring of your choice or leave white.
- Spoon little icing onto each biscuit. Add decorations if wanted.
Enjoy and have FUN!!