In the Christian tradition, there is the practice of fasting for many days, the most rigorous and long of which is the Great Fast. The last week of Lent is especially strict. It is called the Holy Week.
On Holy Week there is one special day for an Orthodox person who received the popular name of Thursday. This is Thursday of Holy Week. But the liturgical language of this time is called Great or Good Thursday.
On Holy Thursday, the Orthodox Church remembers the last supper, during which the sacrament of holy communion was established by the Lord Jesus Christ. Believers try to receive communion on this holy day. Over time, the people began to call this time Pure Thursday as a sign that the Orthodox person cleanses his soul by communing with the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Before communion, a person confesses his sins. Thus, the naming pure Thursday indicates a special purification of the soul on this day, is a kind of spiritual meaning.
At present, one can hear a different explanation of the etymology of Thursday. So, some people believe that on this day you definitely need to wash in the bath or take a shower. The very semantic load of the holy day, determined by the desire of the Orthodox to purify the soul and the communion of the holy mysteries, changes to a purely material idea. It is worth saying that such an interpretation of pure Thursday is not correct from the point of view of the spiritual life of a person for whom it is much more important not to cleanse his body, but his soul.
It can also be said that the popular naming of Great Thursday clean indicates the custom of cleaning this day in their homes. This practice now takes place in human life. It is only important to understand that cleaning is done not because the calendar is Thursday, but in order for the believer to prepare his house in advance for Easter. Having cleared up on Thursday, the Orthodox man is no longer distracted by everyday needs, but tries to devote himself to the services of Good Friday and Good Saturday.
