Today is "Spy Wednesday," the day on which tradition has it that Judas made his sinister bargain with the Sanhedrin. I went searching for traditional commemorations and found that in Poland children (at least used to) take an effigy of Judas and drag it through the street. And in the Czech Republic, today is also called "Ugly Wednesday," and is the day chimneys are swept to have the house clean for Easter.Speaking of which, I'd never heard before, though it makes perfect sense, that Catholics traditionally do their spring cleaning on the first three days of Holy Week --again, to be ready for Easter, and following the Jewish custom of preparing for Passover. See here and here for more on that.
The picture at right is of a redbud tree, aka the Judas tree, because tradition has it Judas hanged himself on a redbud and the blossoms blushed in shame. Photo credit.
Finally, I can't forget my own mildly eery encounter with Judas last year (2nd graf)
