Good Friday is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Christians all over the world. It commemorates the day Jesus was crucified at the Roman Calvary, where he subsequently died.
According to the Paschal Triduum, it is observed during Holy Week and falls before Easter Sunday. It is also referred to as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday, Black Friday, and other variations.
Good Friday 2023 Date
Good Friday and Holy Saturday (the Saturday after Good Friday and just a day before Easter Sunday, or simply Easter) are days of sorrow for Jesus Christ’s death before he was resurrected from the dead on Easter.
On both the Gregorian and Julian calendars, the date of Good Friday fluctuates from year to year. The Eastern and Western communities disagree on how to calculate the date of Easter and so Good Friday.
Although the dates change each year, it always falls in the month of April, and this year it will be observed on April 7th.
Good Friday 2023 History
According to the Bible, on this day, the Jewish religious leaders who had condemned him the night before, claiming he was the son of god and king of the Jews, brought him to Rome for sentencing.
He was sent to Pilate, who sentenced Jesus to crucifixion, which was considered to be the highest form of criminal punishment at that time.
Jesus Christ was beaten, forced to carry a heavy wooden cross through cheering crowds, and finally nailed to the big cross by wrists and feet. He was left to suffer for six hours.
As per Biblical structures, his death is regarded as one of the significant events after which he was ascended to heaven. It is believed that Jesus sacrificed his life for the sins of his children, the people, so that their sins are forgiven and they are freed from the pain, suffering, and agony of their lives.
Good Friday 2023 Significance
Good Friday has a lot of significance in Christianity; it tells us that the good always wins, even when it has to go through so much suffering like Jesus did for the sake of humanity, which shows how much he loved everyone.
How is Good Friday Celebrated?
Although there are no traditional celebrations associated with the day, it is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the world.
Members of many Christian Denominations including the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, Oriental Orthodox and Reformed traditions, observed Good Friday by observing fasts and offering prayers in Churches.
In many Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist Churches, the Service of the Great Three Meal Hours’ Agony, to commemorate the three hours of Christ’s hanging at the cross, is also held from noon until 3 pm.
Further, the communicants of the Moravian Churches celebrate the festival by cleaning gravestones in Moravian Cemeteries.
In India, where 2.3% of total population adheres to Christianity, the festival is celebrated with joy and full enthusiasm. The celebration here includes large prayer meets, public processions and fasting.
The Christians all around the country attend special church services, abstain from consuming alcohol and fast for the whole day to commemorate Christ’s sacrifice.
To mourn the sacrifice, they are seen all wearing all colored hats, head-covers, scarves etc and during the afternoon holy-statues, crosses and pictures in the Churches are also covered with black clothes.
People present within the Church premises maintain their silence and carry out a sobering attitude and then Hymns, prayers, devotional prayers etc. are also sung as part of Friday services and rituals.
A. In the year 2023, Good Friday will be observed on April 7.
A. Easter will fall on 9th April, Sunday.
