Detailed Information about Good Friday Festival & Its Importance

The word "good" is used in the senses of pious and holy in English. This layer of meaning is the intended attribution when the term "Good Friday" is used. Primarily Christians observe this religious holiday. On this day, they commemorate the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday falls on the Friday that comes before Easter Sunday. As part of the Paschal Triduum, the holiday is observed during Holy Week. The day that Jews observe as Passover sometimes coincides with the day on which Good Friday is commemorated. Holy Friday, Great Friday, Black Friday or Easter Friday are other terms by which Good Friday is usually denoted. The usage Easter Friday has only a narrow connotation of being the Friday in Easter week.

The close examination of details in the Canonical gospels leads to the conclusion that the Crucifixion of Jesus is most likely to have been happened on a Friday. two different groups estimate the year in which Crucifixion happened as AD Thirty three and Issac Newton calculate it to be in AD thirty four. These estimations are made taking into account the differences existing between the Biblical and Julian calendars and also the crescent of the moon. There is a third method used also. It entails a completely distinct astronomical approach which takes into account a lunar Crucifixion darkness and eclipse model. This model is derived from Apostle Peter's reference to a "moon of blood". This third method concluded that the event happened on a Friday, the third of April in AD thirty three.

Catholic Church considers Good Friday as a fast day. Latin Rite of the Church reminds its sheep to have only one full meal which is smaller than the meal they regularly take and two collations. A collation means a smaller repast, which when two added together does not equal one full meal. On the day the faithful also abstain from having meat.

During the duration from Lord's Supper up to the Easter Vigil, no Mass is celebrated in Latin Rite. Vatican or local Bishop can grant exemptions to this. Lord's Supper falls on the eve of Holy Thursday. Baptism to those are in danger of death, Penance and Anointing of the Sick are the only sacraments celebrated during this period. As there is no celebration of Mass, it entails that Eucharist is also not celebrated. But which are blessed in foregone services is distributed to faithful only in the Service of the Passion of the Lord. During this period, laying the altar completely bare, crosses, candlesticks and altar clothes are removed from it. Sometimes as a custom the holy water fonts are emptied as a preparation for the ceremony of the blessing of the water at the Easter Vigil. Traditionally bells are not rung on Good Friday or Holy Saturday until the Easter Vigil.

The time designated for the celebration of the Passion of the Lord is in the afternoon, ideally at three o'clock. The vestments used more commonly are red and more traditionally black.