Christians all throughout the world observe Good Friday to remember when Jesus Christ was crucified. Good Friday always falls on the Friday before Easter Sunday, capping up the holy week.
Other names for Good Friday include Holy Friday and Easter Friday. Good Friday is observed according to the lunar cycle, hence its date is not set and fluctuates every year. Christians remember Jesus Christ, his death, burial, and sacrifices on Good Friday, a day of solemnity and grief.
The following is a collection of notable details regarding Good Friday that everyone should be aware of:
- Some people believe that getting a haircut on Good Friday is good for health and prevents headaches for the rest of the year.
- In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI declared Good Friday a national holiday in Cuba.
- Germans commemorate Sorrowful Friday on Good Friday, hence there is no dancing allowed and no clubs open on this day. Individuals who break this law are subject to a £1,000 ($1,300) fine.
- Every year, The Passion of Jesus is performed for free in Trafalgar Square in London. Moreover, you may watch it live on Facebook.
- Eggs are cracked in Jamaica. Comparing this tradition to the American practice of dying eggs, there are some differences. It is customary to crack an egg and add just the egg white to a glass of water before sunrise. The egg is heated by the rising sun as patterns develop in the glass. The way the white swirls appear, according to the elders, can foretell how you will pass away.
- TV and radio advertisements are not allowed between the hours of 6 a.m. and noon on Good Friday in New Zealand, according to the Broadcasting Act, out of respect for the religious holiday. The same rule applies on Christmas, Easter Sunday, and Anzac Day to avoid interfering with festivities.
- 33 bells are rung in churches all across the world to mark the day of Christ’s death as well as the 33 years he spent on earth.
- The first Good Friday was observed on April 3, A.D. 33, according to research done by authors Andreas Köstenberger and Justin Taylor.
- Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday, which derives from the Latin word mandatum, which means commandment, is the Thursday before Good Friday. This represents the commandment that Jesus gave during the Last Supper, when he shared the Passover meal with his disciples.
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