Good Friday

On Good Friday, Christians remember the day when Jesus was crucified on a cross. Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday (Easter Day). The date of Good Friday changes every year. The date of the first Good Friday will never be known The Anglo-Saxon name for Good Friday was Long Friday, due to the long fast imposed upon this day. Good Friday was not celebrated as the day Christ died until the 4th century A.D. The name may be derived from 'God's Friday' in the same way that good-bye is derived from 'God be with ye'. It is 'good' because the barrier of sin was broken Jesus was arrested and was tried, in a mock trial. He was handed over to the Roman soldiers to be beaten and flogged with whips. A crown of long, sharp thorns was thrust upon his head. Jesus was forced to carry his own cross outside the city to Skull Hill. He was so weak after the beating that a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was pulled from the crowd and forced to carry Jesus' cross the rest of the way. Jesus was nailed to the cross. Two other criminals were crucified with him, their crosses were on either side of him. A sign above Jesus read "The King of the Jews." According to the bible: The third hour of the day - Jesus was nailed to the cross. (9:00 am ) The Sixth Hour of the day - darkness covered the land (12:00 noon) The ninth hour of the day - the darkness left, and the Lord died ( 3:00 pm). The hours in the bible are calculated from the first hour of the day, being 6 in the morning. Christians believe that Jesus stood in our place. His death paid the penalty not for his own wrong doings but for ours. Since the early nineteenth century, before the introduction of bank holidays, Good Friday and Christmas Day were the only two days of leisure which were almost universally granted to working people. Good Friday today is still a public holiday in much of the UK. This means that many businesses are closed. Fasting Some Christians fast (go without food) on Good Friday. This helps them remember the sacrifice Jesus made for them on the day of crucifixion. Procession Some Christians take part in a procession of witness, carrying a cross through the streets and then into church. Special Church Service Many churches hold a special service. This may be a communion service in the evening or a time of prayer during the day, especially around 3 o'clock as that is about the time of day when Jesus died. Many Churches hold services lasting three hours. They may celebrate the Stations of the Cross, or take part in Passion plays and dramatic readings. Churches are not decorated on Good Friday. In some churches, pictures and statues are covered over. It is seen as a time of mourning. Traditional Food It is traditional to eat warm 'hot cross buns' on Good Friday. Hot Cross Buns with their combination of spicy, sweet and fruity flavours have long been an Easter tradition. The pastry cross on top of the buns symbolises and reminds Christians of the cross that Jesus was killed on. It is traditional to eat fish on Good Friday instead of meat.