Why It Matters
Good Friday, observed this year on April 3, is one of the most solemn days on the Christian calendar. For more than two billion Christians worldwide, the day marks the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His death at Calvary. Churches across all 50 states will hold services today, from packed Catholic cathedrals to small rural Protestant congregations, as believers observe the Passion of the Lord through prayer, fasting, and reflection.
What Is Good Friday
Good Friday falls on the Friday before Easter Sunday and is the central day of Holy Week, the final week of Lent. The day commemorates the events recorded in all four Gospels: the trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate, His scourging, the carrying of the cross along the Via Dolorosa, and His crucifixion at Golgotha. Christians believe that through His suffering and death, Jesus took upon Himself the sins of humanity, offering redemption and the promise of eternal life.
The word “Good” in Good Friday has been debated by scholars for centuries. Most theologians hold that it derives from “God’s Friday” or reflects the belief that the supreme good of salvation was accomplished through Christ’s sacrifice. In many other languages, the day carries names meaning “Holy Friday” or “Great Friday.”
How It Is Observed
Observances vary across Christian traditions. In the Catholic Church, Good Friday is one of only two days in the liturgical year when Mass is not celebrated. Instead, parishes hold the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, which includes the reading of the full Passion narrative from the Gospel of John, the Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion from hosts consecrated the previous day at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are required to fast, and all Catholics over 14 are required to abstain from meat.
Many Catholic parishes also hold the Stations of the Cross, a devotional practice tracing 14 moments from Christ’s condemnation to His burial. In cities across America, outdoor processions reenact the Way of the Cross through public streets, drawing thousands of participants and onlookers.
Protestant churches observe Good Friday through Tenebrae services, where candles are gradually extinguished to symbolize the growing darkness at Calvary, as well as through hymns, Scripture readings, and quiet prayer vigils. Many evangelical congregations hold midday or evening services focused on the seven last words of Christ from the cross.
Orthodox Christians following the Julian calendar will observe Good Friday on a different date this year, though many Orthodox parishes in the United States follow the revised calendar and observe it today alongside Western Christians.
By the Numbers
Christianity remains the largest religious group in the United States. According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 63 percent of American adults identify as Christian. The Catholic Church is the single largest denomination, with roughly 51 million adult members in the United States. Protestant denominations collectively account for approximately 40 percent of the adult population.
Good Friday is not a federal holiday in the United States, though 12 states recognize it as a state holiday, including Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and some counties in Florida.
What Comes Next
Good Friday is followed by Holy Saturday, a day of quiet waiting and vigil. The Easter Vigil, celebrated after sundown on Saturday, is considered the most important liturgy of the Catholic year and the moment when the Church proclaims the Resurrection. Easter Sunday services will follow on April 5, celebrating the central belief of Christianity: that Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day, conquering death and opening the way to salvation for all who believe.