Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter. On this day, Christians recall Jesus’ final Passover meal—which we now call the Lord’s Supper—at which he washed the feet of His disciples, demonstrating his humility to value others above himself. He then commanded them to do the same for each other. “Maundy” is a shortened form of mandatum (Latin), which means “command.” It was on the next day, Good Friday, that Jesus was crucified. Today is also a holy day for those who serve as clergy for they often renew their ordination vows, recommitting themselves to service.
Daily Calendar for Thursday, April 2, 2026
Daily Calendar
View daily calendar information including holidays, advice, and daily features.
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Born
- Hans Christian Andersen (author) –
- Erastus Brigham Bigelow (industrialist, inventor, a founder of Massachusetts Institute of Technology) –
- Buddy Ebsen (actor) –
- Charles "Honi" Coles (tap dancer) –
- Sir Alec Guinness (actor) –
- Emmylou Harris (country music singer) –
- Christopher Meloni (actor) –
- Clark Gregg (actor) –
Died
- Samuel Morse (inventor) –
- Bennie Moton (Jazz pioneer; died in Kansas City, Missouri) –
- C. S. Forester (author) –
- Pope John Paul II –
- Jane Henson (co-creator of The Muppets) –
Events
- Juan Ponce de Leon discovered Florida and claimed it for the King of Spain –
- U.S. Mint established –
- American Farmer journal founded –
- Bread riot occurred in Richmond, Virginia –
- 7.9 earthquake triggered tsunami, Hawaii –
- Charles Martin Hall patented an inexpensive way to make aluminum –
- As the World Turns debuted on television –
- 199.5+ mph wind gust recorded at Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire –
- Toronto’s 1,815-foot CN Tower was completed. –
- Dallas made its television debut –
- The patent for the hook-and-loop fastener Velcro expired. –
- A British rescue cat named Merlin set a new world record with a purr that was recorded at 67.8 decibels. –
Weather
- Wind gusted to at least 199.5 miles per hour at Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire –
- A severe storm blasted the northeastern United States for three days. Winds reached 140 miles per hour on top of Mount Washington, New Hampshire, and Maine received two to three feet of snow –
- 9.4 inches of snow closed Chicago’s O’Hare airport –
- Twisters tore through the Midwest and South, killing 18 people –
- A rare 0.1” snowfall occurred in Charlotte, North Carolina –