Good Friday is a day of reflection on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, observed with ceremonies in different sects of Christianity. Catholics fast and abstain from meat, and attend prayer meetings. Passion plays are performed in some countries, but the Catholic Church frowns upon them. Some Christians argue that attention to Christ’s death is important only insofar as it allows people to understand that Christ rose from the dead. Good Friday is a national holiday in many countries, with banks and commercial activities closed. In the US, school districts vary on whether they close or not.
Good Friday is a day of reflection on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It occurs two days before Easter is celebrated, so the date is different every year. Unlike other days considered holy by Christians, Good Friday is never “celebrated.” Rather it is observed with a variety of ceremonies in different sects of Christianity.
Most Christian congregations hold prayers, meetings or solemn meetings in churches on Good Friday, but in most cases attendance at these meetings is not considered mandatory. Also in the Catholic Church no one is obliged to attend Mass on Good Friday, and in fact no real Mass is celebrated. There is no consecration of the wafer or reception of communion, but usually a reading of the New Testament account of Christ’s crucifixion and much prayer. Also, for Catholics, Good Friday is often a day of fasting and abstaining from meat. Especially during the three hours between 12pm and 3pm, no food is consumed.
For Christians who observe Good Friday, the day is to reflect on the sacrifice Christ made so that all people would be welcomed into heaven. Some focus on Christ’s suffering, performing passion plays that reenact Christ’s death. It should be noted that the Catholic Church frowns on Passion plays, although they are performed in some predominantly Catholic countries such as the Philippines. Some representations of the Passion have aroused reactions of anger and hatred towards Christ’s executioners, subtracting from the solemnity of Good Friday and belittling Christ’s sacrifice.
While many may read the sections of the New Testament dealing with Christ’s death, some find this section of the New Testament extremely tragic and almost overwhelming. In places like Poland, representations of Christ’s tomb may be staged and people may spend the night mourning Christ’s death over them. It is not uncommon for those who focus on the crucifixion aspect of Good Friday to mourn.
Some Christians also argue that attention to Christ’s death on Good Friday is important only insofar as it allows people to understand that Christ rose from the dead. The real crucifixion is much less important and takes attention away from the life of Christ. The emphasis on the crucifixion and the detailed accounts tend to focus on the harm done to Christ rather than the good Christ did.
In many countries, Good Friday is a national holiday. Banks could close, and it is not uncommon for all commercial activities, such as pubs and restaurants, to close in Catholic-majority countries. This is the case in Ireland, where drinking on Good Friday is considered a sacrilege.
In the United States, customs vary as to which institutions remain open or closed. Most school districts used to close on Good Friday, but this now varies from district to district. If the district is in an area with a large population of Catholics or Christians attending church services during the day, schools will typically close because too many children would be absent. Catholic and Christian schools almost always close on Good Friday.
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