What is Good Friday and Why Do Christians Celebrate It?

Good Friday is celebrated on the Friday before Easter Sunday. The day commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ

Christians across the globe are celebrating Good Friday today, a day of deep spiritual reflection and significance in the Christian faith. But what exactly is Good Friday, and why is it observed every year?

What is Good Friday?

Good Friday is celebrated on the Friday before Easter Sunday. The day commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ, a key moment in the Christian narrative of redemption.

Though it marks a day of suffering and death, Christians refer to it as “Good Friday” because it represents the ultimate act of love, Jesus’s sacrifice for the salvation of humanity.

Some believe the word “good” signifies the sacredness of the day, while others think it originates from “God’s Friday.”

Traditions and Observances

Good Friday is a day of mourning and prayer. It is part of the Paschal Triduum, a sacred three-day period beginning with Maundy Thursday (commemorating the Last Supper), culminating in the Easter Vigil, and concluding with Easter Sunday.

Christians around the world observe this day by fasting and abstinence, attending solemn church services, offering prayers for liberation from pain and suffering and giving donations to the needy.

One of the most significant rituals is the Service of the Great Three Hours’ Agony, held from 12 pm to 3 pm, symbolising the hours Jesus hung on the cross, a time shrouded in darkness, as described in the Bible.

The Crucifixion of Jesus: A Story of Sacrifice

According to scripture, Jesus was tortured, beaten, and made to carry a heavy wooden cross through the streets, before being crucified, nails driven through his hands and feet. He hung on the cross until his death, an act seen by Christians as the ultimate sacrifice to cleanse the sins of mankind and restore the connection between humanity and God.

As the world prepares for the joy of Easter, Good Friday serves as a powerful reminder of faith, sacrifice, and hope the foundation of the Christian journey toward renewal and resurrection.

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