Why is Good Friday Celebrated? Good Friday is the remembrance of the day that Jesus Christ died to wipe clean the sins of man, at the hands of the Jews at Golgotha. He was killed for claiming to be the son of the God, when previous charges were found to be without merit and no basis for sentencing.
This day is a religious observance followed by many Christians (followers of Christ) around the world although it has different names in different countries. English and Dutch speaking countries call it “good” Friday, with it otherwise being mostly called Holy Friday. Other variations include High, or Great Friday, the Day of Christ's suffering and Long Friday. What people do, and how Good Friday is celebrated The day is a sombre one, led with religious services and traditions that differ depending on which branch of Christianity you ascribe to and whether or not the country you live in views Good Friday as a public holiday. The common themes are fasting, prayer, and penance, but the specifics may change. In the US the day is not a federal holiday, but in the UK, Canada, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and other countries it is. Additionally, the largely Catholic Ireland bans the sale of alcohol on Good Friday. Services recount the final day of Jesus' life and the events leading up to his death. There are readings from the gospels that cover Jesus betrayal, his arrest, his subsequent release after being whipped, the public demand for his death, his internment and resurrection to life in the garden near where he died. There are generally two parts to the services-those leading up to Christ's death at 3pm, and those after his death. For members of the Roman Catholic Church, fasting means having just one large meal in the day that is not as large as your normal meal, and two small snacks that together would not have the combined substance of the larger meal. The Eastern and Greek Orthodox Churches begin their observance the night before with the Matins of the Twelve Passion Gospels. This includes twelve readings taken from the gospels that recount the final hours of Jesus' life. Places to be for Good Friday Your place of worship. Good Friday Activities Hot cross buns are a treat that is typically eaten on Good Friday in English speaking countries. They are a current bun that is spiced, and it is thought by some that the cross on top represents the cross of the crucification, however there are alternative theories exist that the buns predate Christ. These have now been banned in some UK schools in the name of political correctness, for fear of offending none Christians. Australia has it's own version-a chocolate bun that has the same spices, but chocolate chips instead of currents and coco powder to flavour it too. The Czech Republic has another sweet bread often eaten at this time, that may or may not be marked with a cross. |
