Why Is Good Friday Observed?

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Good Friday is a special day observed by the Christians for commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. It is also known as the Holy Friday, Great Friday or the Black Friday. Good Friday is observed on the Friday prior to the Easter Sunday.

Many Christians spend this day by fasting, prayer, meditation and repentance for the agony that Christ suffered on the cross. On Good Friday people remember the day when Jesus suffered and died at the cross as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. The observance of Good Friday is followed by the glorious celebration of Easter when Jesus miraculously rose from dead, showing His victory over sin and death.

Take a look at the origin, traditions and rituals of Good Friday.

Origin Of Good Friday
There are two possible origins of the word 'Good Friday'. The first may have come from the Gallican Church in Gaul (modern-day France and Germany). The name "Gute Freitag" is Germanic in origin and it literally means "good" or "holy" Friday. The second possibility is a variation on the name "God's Friday," where the word "good" was used to replace the word "God".

Good Friday Rituals
The rituals of Good Friday are different in every church. The ceremony is usually sombre and priests dress up in black signifying mourning. No candles are lit at the altar. Every things demonstrates grief over Jesus' death.

Starting anytime between midnight and 3 a.m., priests begin to recite specific prayers. At the morning ceremony, the priest recites lessons from the scriptures. Later, there is a succession of prayers asking for God's mercy and forgiveness for all humankind.

Thus, Good Friday is a day of sorrow mixed with joy. It is a time to grieve over the sin of man and to rejoice upon God's love in giving His only Son for the redemption of sin.