Good Friday What's Good Friday Good or Holy Friday is the name ascribed to a Friday, when the Savior of this world, Jesus Christ, was crucified, decried of treason by the Romans. It is on this Friday that Christ suffered for the well-being of mankind and spread his ubiquitous 'goodness' over this world. May be that is one reason why this Friday is called Good Friday. Some others hold the view that the name Good Friday was derived from God's Friday. But whatever the attributes, one thing shines through for sure--the welfare of mankind that Christ ensured through his sacrifice on Good Friday. Although it was on this Friday that the world at large was deprived of this One man, Jesus Christ, who brought spiritual revolution in the hearts of many, it still remains a day of hope, a day which bears the promise of an impending revival, a new tomorrow, a resurrection ! Good Friday witnessed the passion of Christ as he bore the cross through the streets to where he was finally put to death; Good Friday commemorates the Crucifixion of Christ by the Roman soldiers and Good Friday also remembers how the son of God, Christ forgave all and sundry who've sinned against the Supreme, against God. So the spirit of forgiving and an all-pervading goodness echoes on every Good Friday to keep Christ's message of "conquering all evil through good" alive! History And Origin Of Good Friday The history and origin of Good Friday does not languish into oblivion. It's as alive and fresh in our hearts as it was centuries back. How can anyone possibly forget the darkest day when our Lord God, Jesus Christ, was crucified with unflinching cruelty and brutal vigor by the Romans ? 'Feria VI in Parasceve', as called in the Roman Missal, 'Charfreitag', as called in German, 'he hagia kai megale paraskeue', as referred to in the Greek liturgy and 'Holy Friday' in Romance language, Good Friday is a day to offer silent prayers and observe abstinence of all sorts--both mental and physical. In English, the Friday which falls on the Holy week is known as 'Good Friday'. The significance of Good Friday is enormous as it was on this very day that Jesus, the son of God, forgave the sinners before drawing his last breath at the cross. In memory of Jesus, and to pay respect to his sufferings, the Christians keep fasts on Good Friday, no light is lighted at the churches and the Christian world is enveloped in a dark cowl. On a Good Friday, no church bells ring, and there is a vast spread of calm and quiet. All ornamentations are stripped off, making the houses and churches look bare and to underline the predominant atmosphere of mourning. So why is this Friday called 'Good' ? No one knows for sure how the term 'Good' was pre-fixed with 'Friday'. Some say that it was originally called 'God's Friday' which then changed into 'Good Friday', while some maintain that it is from the German 'Gute Freitag'. The Anglo-Saxons call it the 'Long Friday'. Now, Jesus earned enemies after he returned to Jerusalem and was heartily welcomed by the common people. Afraid of losing their power and authority, the Roman rulers sought it best to get rid of him. So Jesus was unjustly condemned of treason and was consequently punished. Judas--the name behind the historic betrayal--succumbed to temptation and betrayed Jesus for a mere thirty pieces of silver. The punishment 'bestowed' on Christ thereafter was attributed to those who would violate the rules of the Roman Empire. And Jesus's fault ? He claimed that he was the son of God and would preach his beliefs and works as a healer. This awoke offence against him in Palestine and ultimately he was tried and sentenced to death in Golgotha. Jesus was crucified on a Friday. Striking and unbelievable as it might seem, Christ again rose on Sunday (the Easter Sunday), and the world witnessed his immortality and the towering spirit of goodness that can never be done away with. This was his Resurrection. His preachings, like him, are eternal too. He was a teacher, guiding his disciples by the plethora of knowledge and understanding that he had in his command. He preached how to forgive people for their sins and thereby rise above all mundane frivolities. He spoke nothing but the Truth. The last seven sentences spoken by Christ after he was crucified hold great significance. "Father , forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23 :43) "Woman, here is your son. Here is your mother" (John 19:26) "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" (My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?) (Mark 15:34) "I am thirsty" (John 19:28) "It is finished" (John 19:30) "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:46) These words were addressed to God, his Father. It clearly indicates Jesus' will to seek God while he took his last few breaths. It throws light on the unending faith and belief that Jesus had on the Divine, the Supreme. Good Friday Observances The Friday before Easter commemorates Christ's Crucifixion and is popularly observed as Good Friday with deep mourning and silent prayers. On Good Friday, people remember Christ's sufferings and humiliation for the well-being of mankind. It's a day to thank him for his greatness, love and passion. After the long fasting and well-restrained days of the Lent, comes Good Friday, the day when Christ slowly embraced death nailed to a cross. It's believed that Christ survived at the cross for three hours (12 noon to 3 in the afternoon) before he succumbed to death. So on every Good Friday, silence conquers everything in these three hours--from 12 noon to 3 pm. Good Friday is the most abstemious day in the Christian calendar, when people refrain from all excesses. Lights are put out, there is little talk, little or no noise, less activity, and a gripping austerity all around. All decorations are taken off the walls, television and radio sets are kept aside for the day and sound, if any, is only of the holy chantings from the Scriptures. For, Good Friday is a day of quiet respect. Earlier, fasting was strictly observed on Good Friday, but nowadays, it loosened up a little. People have only the bare minimum, the symbolic hot cross buns and a pot of soup or may be fish at the most. From 12 to 3, all actions whatsoever which would've otherwise been carried out, comes to a halt to sanctify the day. Every member of the family sits around a cross, engrossed in prayers or singing Lenten hymns or reading some holy Scriptures on the passion of Christ. Family meals are also eaten in complete silence. Some even spend the day at the church, listening to the Good Friday chantings, which are usually from the Gospel of John. Good Friday services are observed in two parts--the Good Friday Tre Ore Services and the Good Friday Tenebrae Services. The first is the morning service, usually carried out for three hours from 12 to 3 and is characterized by prayers and sermons on Christ. After the daytime Tre Ore Services are over, people exit the church and gather in front of the church door to watch the symbolic sealing of the church-door. This marks the sealing of Christ's tomb. The seals are opened on the following Sunday, the Easter Sunday, to commemorate Christ's Resurrection. With Easter, the spirit of rejoicing is let loose. The Good Friday Tenebrae Service is usually the evening service. Tenebrae, means darkness in Latin. And this is specially significant because everything about this Friday is dark and abominable. Good Friday Tenebrae Service is observed in order to commemorate the dark hours of Christ's Crucifixion, his sufferings at the last hour and his death ! At the service, seven candles are lighted, which signify Christ's life. And then, with each word uttered from the cross at the Church, a candle is put out one by one. But only one candle is left burning to represent the light of God, the light of Christ even in the face of an impenetrable darkness. Good Friday Food Hot cross buns are sure to pop up in your mind if you're talking about Good Friday food. But no one knows how the tradition of baking buns on Good Friday started as it is believed that the origin of baking these buns dates back to pagan times. But nevertheless, it has been a custom that on Good Friday and throughout the Easter season, buns are either home-baked or bought from bakeries. The only decoration done on these buns is that of sugar icing in the form of a cross which signifies the Crucifixion of Christ. Long ago, the street vendors of England sold these buns and to advertise for these buns, they used to sing a particular song which now has become a popular nursery rhyme. It goes something like this: Hot cross buns ! Hot cross buns ! One a penny, two a penny, Hot cross buns ! There is another story relating why hot cross buns are baked on Good Friday. It says that an English lady, whose son was setting off for the sea, vowed to him that she would bake him a bun every Good Friday. Her son never returned but each year she would bake a bun for him hoping that he would return. This tradition was carried forward by the English even after the demise of the lady and even today, on the last day of Lent and also during Easter, buns are baked and fish, instead of meat, is cooked in almost all Christian homes. So if you want to unearth some 'good'ness on a Good Friday, give your dear ones a sweet treat of hot cross buns in the hope and joy of a happy Easter !