Good Friday is
about commemorating the final hours of Jesus Christ's life, his crucifixion,
and death on the cross.
The crucifixion
was the culmination of a number of events in Holy Week, including Jesus' return
to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus washing his disciples' feet, and Jesus' last
supper on Maundy Thursday.
It is an important
event in Christianity as it represents the sacrifices and suffering in Jesus
Christ’s life and the commemoration of this very important day holds great
significance for Christians.
It is also known
variously as Holy Friday, Great Friday,
Black Friday, or Easter Friday.
In India, it is a
gazetted holiday.
How it is observed
On Good Friday,
Christians attend special church services. They also pray throughout the day.
People also fast or abstain from eating meat on this day. Parades or open air
plays to portray the last days and hours of Jesus' life are also held in many
parts of India.
● Good Friday is a day of sadness.
Churches are empty and dark and services are held in the afternoon.
● The day being a solemn one, church
is not decorated on this day, and the altar is bare.
● There is no Eucharist (the ceremony
commemorating the Last Supper, in which bread and wine are consecrated and
consumed) present in the church.
● A bitter drink prepared from leaves,
vinegar, and other ingredients is served at many churches and this everyone can
taste it after the service.
● A life-sized cross is placed at the
center of the altar and parishioners pass it by and kiss or touch it if they
choose.
● Christians can eat only one full
meal and two smaller ones during the day.
Good Friday
There are many
theories trying to explain why the day has come to be known as ‘Good’ Friday as
it does not have anything even remotely resembling good, as Jesus Christ was
tortured and crucified on this day.
● One explanation is that ‘good’
simply means pious or holy.
● The other is that it is a corruption
of ‘God’ Friday.
The first
explanation has been endorsed by no less an authority than The Oxford English Dictionary.
Mount Litera Zee
School (MLZS) wishes you a very ‘Good Friday!’
May Joy and
Happiness accompany every one of you always!