NAMES IN THE NEWS : Queen Gives Out ‘Maundy’ Purses
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BIRMINGHAM, England — Queen Elizabeth II distributed purses of specially minted “Maundy” money today at a cathedral as part of a centuries-old Easter tradition.
In a ceremony dating to the 12th Century, she gave out purses to 63 men and 63 women--one for each year of her life--who were chosen as community leaders in England’s second largest city. A crowd of about 5,000 people watched as she gave out the purses, each containing 63 pence ($1.08), at St. Philip’s Cathedral.
Each year a different cathedral is chosen for the ceremony, which is always held on Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before Easter.
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