maundy (ritual ablution) en

Ritual washing of the feet, derived from hospitality customs of ancient civilizations in which a host would provide water and often a servant to wash the feet of the visitor. Owing to the general use of sandals in Eastern countries, the washing of the feet was almost everywhere recognized from the earliest times as a duty of courtesy. The principle modern example is the ceremony performed by Christian denominations on Maundy Thursday during Lent, following the example of Jesus in Biblical passages.