How is Good Friday Observed?

Good Friday is observed on the Friday that comes before Easter Sunday. This is the day when Christians remember and honour the passion as well as the suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ because he was crucified. Read on to learn everything related to this important day. Christians believe that Good Friday was the day when Jesus Christ was crucified. Many Christians spend this day praying, meditating, fasting and trying to understand the agony and suffering of Christ on the cross. Christians believe that Jesus Christ was the Eternal Son of God and he died for all human’s sins. They observe Good Friday as the most sorrowful yet the most important day of the year. The observation starts usually from noon to 6 pm. In this articleVisiting Local ChurchesPassion PlaysObserving the GriefMourning and PrayingRituals Observed by ChurchesWhy is Good Friday called ‘Good’?How to Observe Good Friday Have a quick look at how is Good Friday observed. Visiting Local Churches Christians visit local churches where they have the holy mass and some may also have ‘Stations of the Cross’ which they attend. Participants sing hymns and pray as they move along from station to station. Passion Plays Some of the Christian communities carry on passion plays which are attended by many Christians. Many of them also participate in them or perhaps organize also. Hot cross buns with afternoon tea are served to the guests during this activity. Observing the Grief Some Christians keep fast the whole day while some eat very less. Some cover all crosses, pictures and statues with black cloth and carry on the observation in dark extinguishing all candles to symbolize and honour Christ’s death. The services at the church are simple and solemn that day. Some of the churches pay more attention to charitable deeds. Mourning and Praying Since it is believed that Jesus Christ died at 3 pm on that day, all Christians stop doing whatever they are doing at this time and morn as well as pray. Although the spirit of Good Friday is universal, it is observed in different ways in different parts of the world. However, it speaks about the love of the God and is an occasion to thank God for whatever he did for the betterment of mankind. Rituals Observed by Churches Churches are arranged and services are carried out completely in a different way on Good Friday. Priests wear black vestments and no church bells ring. Also, no weddings are carried out during the whole week. The traditional Good Friday observation starts with a series of scripture reading it is also a tradition that from Good Friday and Holy Saturday till the Easter Vigil no church bells ring. Some churches extinguish the candles one by one and observe Good Friday in darkness. Why is Good Friday called ‘Good’? Many people feel confused that when Good Friday is observed as the death and suffering of Lord, why is it termed as Good. Many believe that this term is not in general and here ‘Good’ refers to ‘Holy’. Some believe that it is ‘Good’ because it reminds us that the death of Jesus was because of human sins. Also, the experience of joy is always better when it comes after sorrow. So, to enjoy the coming back of Jesus into life can be experienced only when you feel the suffering he went through. One of the explanations says that no tragedy can overshadow the love and grace of God not even if the tragedy is death. However, the day, Good Friday, commemorates Jesus Christ’s death which was because he sacrificed his life for the goodness of mankind. This day opens up the excitement and enjoyment that Christians feel while celebrating Easter which indicates victory over death, sin and everything that is inhumane. In the end what is important is that there is an end to all.Why is Good Friday marked as an important day by Christians? What rituals are followed by Christians while observing Good Friday? How are Churches organised on the day of Good Friday? Discuss here.