Good Friday

Good Friday is a very important day for Christians around the world. It is a holy day that remembers the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary, also known as Golgotha. This event happened during Holy Week, which is the week leading up to Easter. Good Friday is part of something called the Paschal Triduum, which includes the most sacred days in the Christian calendar.

Many different Christian groups, such as Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists, and others, observe Good Friday in special ways. They often fast, meaning they eat less or nothing at all, as a way to show respect and remember Jesus's sacrifice. Many churches hold special services, like the Service of the Great Three Hours' Agony, which takes place from noon until 3 p.m. This marks the time when the Bible says darkness covered the land until Jesus died on the cross. In some traditions, people also pray the Stations of the Cross in the evening.

The date of Good Friday changes each year because it depends on the date of Easter. Both the Gregorian calendar, which many countries use today, and the Julian calendar, which some Eastern Christian churches still follow, are used to figure out when Good Friday is. Because it is such an important religious day, Good Friday is a legal holiday in many countries. In some Christian countries like Germany, there are special rules, like not having public dancing or horse racing, to keep the day respectful and somber in memory of Jesus's death.

Etymology

The term Good Friday comes from an older meaning of the word good, which means pious or holy. Other expressions that use this meaning include the good book for the Bible and good tide for Christmas or Shrovetide. Many people think the name comes from the good that came from Jesus’s death, which Christians believe was a sacrifice that helped save people.

Another idea some people have is that Good Friday comes from God Friday, but this is not correct. In Old English, the day was called Long Friday because of the long times of fasting and religious services. Similar names are still used in some Scandinavian languages and Finnish.

Biblical accounts

Main articles: Passion of Jesus, Crucifixion of Jesus, and Sayings of Jesus on the cross

The Bible tells the story of Jesus' arrest and trial. His follower Judas helped soldiers arrest Jesus in a garden. Jesus was taken to leaders who wanted him punished. He was questioned and finally sent to a Roman leader named Pilate. Pilate could not find a reason to punish Jesus, but the crowd demanded that Jesus be crucified anyway.

Pilate agreed, and Jesus was taken to a place called Golgotha, where he was crucified. He hung on the cross for three hours while darkness covered the land. After a loud cry, Jesus passed away. His body was wrapped in cloth and placed in a tomb, which was sealed with a large stone.

Eastern Orthodox

Byzantine Christians call this day "Great and Holy Friday", or simply "Great Friday". Because it recalls the sacrifice of Jesus through his crucifixion, the Divine Liturgy is never celebrated on this day, except when it coincides with the Great Feast of the Annunciation.

The faithful revisit the events of the day through public readings of specific Psalms and Gospels, and singing hymns about Christ's death. Rich visual imagery and symbolism are important parts of these observances. In the Orthodox understanding, the events of Holy Week are not just remembered, but actively experienced by the faithful.

Great and Holy Friday is sometimes observed as an absolute fast, with adult Byzantine Christians expected to abstain from all food and drink for the entire day, as much as their health permits.

Roman Catholic

The Roman Catholic Church observes Good Friday with special traditions and services. Until 1955, it was called Feria sexta in Parasceve, meaning "Friday of Preparation." After changes in 1955 and 1970, the name became Feria sexta in Passione Domini, or "Friday of the Passion of the Lord."

Good Friday is a day of fasting for many Catholics. In the Latin Church, people traditionally have one full meal and two smaller meals. Special church services are held, and there is no celebration of the Eucharist until the Easter Vigil. The main service, called the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord, includes reading scriptures, praying, and venerating the cross. This service usually happens in the afternoon but can be held at other times for practical reasons.

The liturgy includes the Liturgy of the Word, prayers for many groups of people, veneration of the cross, and Holy Communion using bread and wine prepared on Maundy Thursday. Many Catholics also pray the Stations of the Cross and may participate in special processions or devotions.

Protestant

In Lutheran tradition, Good Friday is a very important religious holiday. From the 16th to the 20th century, people were expected to avoid all worldly work. Special church services were held, often including music such as the St Matthew Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach. Today, Lutherans usually fast from the Eucharist on Good Friday but remember the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday and celebrate at the Vigil of Easter. The main service, called the Liturgy of the Lord's Passion, is often held at 3 pm.

In the Anglican Communion, Good Friday has been marked by fasting, known as the Black Fast. Local customs include services with the Seven Last Words from the Cross. The Methodist Church also observes Good Friday with fasting and a service of worship based on the Seven Last Words from the Cross, lasting from noon until 3 pm. The Moravian Church holds a Lovefeast on Good Friday and cleans gravestones in Moravian cemeteries. In the Reformed tradition, Good Friday is observed with church services that include the Solemn Reproaches. Many Protestant churches also hold an Interdenominational service with the Lord's Supper.

Associated customs

Good Friday is observed in many countries as a public or federal holiday, including Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, and many others. In the United States, 12 states recognize it as a state holiday.

One common practice is the Black Fast, where believers fast from food and drinks during the day. Special church services and processions are held, including singing hymns like "Crux fidelis" and ceremonies such as the "Mass of the Pre-Sanctified." Some countries have laws that prohibit activities seen as disrespectful to the solemn nature of the day, such as dancing or loud events.

Calculating the date

See also: Date of Easter

Good Friday is the Friday before Easter. The date of Easter is found in different ways by Eastern Christianity and Western Christianity. Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the Paschal Full Moon, which is the full moon that occurs on or after March 21, considered the start of spring.

Western Christian traditions use the Gregorian calendar for their calculations, while Eastern Christian traditions use the Julian calendar. Because of this difference, the date of March 21 in the Julian calendar matches April 3 in the Gregorian calendar. This means that Good Friday can fall on different dates for these two groups.

Cultural references

Good Friday plays a special role in the story of Parsifal, a famous music drama by Richard Wagner. The play includes a beautiful part called the "Good Friday Music," which is an orchestral interlude.

Memoration on Wednesday of the Holy Week

Some Baptist groups, the Philadelphia Church of God, and certain non-denominational churches do not observe Good Friday. Instead, they remember the Crucifixion of Jesus on Wednesday, linking it to the Jewish Passover Lamb. They believe this timing matches Jesus' own words about being in the tomb for three days and three nights.

Others, like the Associates for Biblical Research, support the traditional observance of Good Friday. They argue that the idea of a Wednesday crucifixion does not fit with how Jews counted days back then.