Note 64 — Chapter IV · OTHER COMMEMORATIONS OF EVENTS IN THE LORD’S LIFE. PENTECOST
Reading edition
Spelman (Glossarium Archaeologicum, s.v.) derives our Maundy from maund, ‘a basket,’ because gifts for the poor were carried in baskets; and this derivation has attained some popularity. But there is little to support it. In Germany from the later mediaeval period Der grüne Donnerstag (Green Thursday) has been the popular name of the day. No entirely satisfactory explanation of the term has been offered. There is no question that in several German churches green vestments were worn by the priest and his ministers at the Mass of Maundy Thursday.