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In spring, families from all over the world celebrate Easter.
For many Christians, Easter is an important holiday in church services to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death. For others, it is a secular celebration with bunnies, a cure-filled basket, and decorated eggs.
But two days before Easter Sunday there is another important Christian holiday. The Holy Day, known as Good Friday, commemorates Jesus’ crucifixion.
Continue reading to continue learning about the meaning behind Good Friday and how Christians observe it:
What is Good Friday?
According to Christian faith, Jesus was arrested and tried to assert that he was the Son of God. Roman authorities were sentenced to death by crucifixion. He was beaten and forced to carry a wooden cross to a place called Golgotha or Calvary, where he was nailed to the cross and left to die. According to the Bible, Jesus was eventually brought down from the cross and buried.
Christians believe that Jesus died on the cross to save humanity from his sin and restore his relationship with God. Many Christians call this belief a tone sin.
To commemorate Jesus’ crucifixion, Good Friday is a rigorous day of mourning and reflection for Christians who often attend special church services and prayer vigils.
Good Friday is part of Holy Week, which includes Palm Sunday, Mound Thursday or Holy Thursday and Good Friday, all the way to Easter Sunday.
When is Good Friday?
In 2025, religious holidays will be held on Friday, April 18th.
Good Friday dates change annually depending on when Passover occurs. Easter Sundays are always two days later.
Why is it called Good Friday?
So what’s so good on Good Friday?
“It’s a very strange day to call you ‘good’ when your Savior and Messiah die,” said Pastor Brent Straun, an Old Testament professor at Duke Seminary and an appointed pastor at United Methodist Church. “Why would you call it a good day?”
It is not entirely clear why Good Friday is called “good.” One common explanation is that “good” originally meant “holy” in the old English language, so “good Friday” can be synonymous with “holy Friday” or “God’s Friday.”
Strawn says he doesn’t think the name is trivial.
“For those who have a Christian faith, it’s good that Christ died for us,” Straunn said. “It gave us peace with God and brought us with him.”
Straun says another reason for the name Good Friday could be due to a deeper understanding of the good and perception that Easter and human salvation are approaching.
“To me, it really is the most robust and thoughtful form of Christianity, suggesting that this is not a rejection of the tragedy of grief or death, but a true, thick understanding of good that emerged from something very tragic,” Straunn said.
How do Christians observe Good Friday?
Christians observe Good Friday in a variety of ways, but here are some standard practices.
Fasting: Some Christians who fast to commemorate Jesus’ sacrifice refrain from eating meat.
Station on the Cross: In this 14-stage prayer practice, people follow the final steps of Jesus before his cross. Stations are often represented through churches and outdoor paintings.
Good Friday Procession: Some countries and cultures march along with images and statues of Jesus or recreate his crucifixion.
Prayer and Church Worship: Many Christians pray to reflect on the importance of Jesus’ sacrifice and his death.
Although Christians know that Easter is approaching, Good Friday church services often reflect Jesus’ tone of crucifixion and death through biblical readings, prayers and hymns.
Straun, Christian worship services often end with words from the cross of Jesus – “It’s over” – the congregation leaves quietly in the darkness.
“The disdain or gloomy nature of Good Friday services shows that Christians take that low point seriously and are really trying to feel the full weight of Christ’s death,” Straunn said.
About 25% of Americans observe Lent, the year of prayer and fasting for the 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday. This is what you need to know.
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