Good Friday occurs
between March 20th
and April 23rd
on the Friday before
Easter. It is a
statutory holiday
throughout Canada. In
Quebec, the employer has
the choice of providing
the employee a holiday
on either Good Friday or
Easter Monday.
Good Friday commemorates
the crucifixion of
Jesus. According to the
Gospels, Jesus was put
to death on the Friday
before
Easter Day.
There are few
explanations as to why
the holiday is known as
"Good" Friday since it
commemorates a sorrowful
time in Christianity.
Some scholars believe
that "good" is a
corruption of the word
"God's" while others
speculate that "good"
was used to denote
"holy". In Eastern
Orthodox churches, the
observance is known as
Great Friday.
Since the early church
Good Friday has been
observed by fasting,
penance, and prayer. For
many years the day had
no association with the
death of Jesus but was
simply another day of
fasting. It has been
associated with the
crucifixion since the
late fourth century.
Many churches now have
mourning services from
noon until 3:00 p.m. to
symbolize Jesus' last
hours on the cross. Some
congregations also
re-enact Jesus'
procession to the cross
in a ritual known as
Stations of the Cross.
In the Roman Catholic
Church, the Good Friday
liturgical service
involves three distinct
parts:
-
readings and
prayers, including
the reading of the
Passion from the
Gospel of St. John;
-
the veneration of
the cross;
-
and a general
communion service
(formerly called the
Mass of the
Pre-sanctified),
using bread and wine
consecrated the
previous day, Maundy
Thursday.
Other forms of
observance include
prayer and meditation at
the Stations of the
Cross, a succession of
14 images on wooden
crosses depicting
Christ's crucifixion and
the events leading up to
it.
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