Good Friday is an important Christian holiday that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.
The Friday immediately before Easter, it’s considered a solemn day of reflection, mourning, and penance for Christians worldwide.
This year Good Friday falls on Friday, March 29th, 2024.
Here are 15 interesting facts about Good Friday to help you celebrate the day!
1. The Phrase “Good Friday” Never Appears in the Bible
While the Bible has much to say about Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection, the exact phrase “Good Friday” is never used. After all, the disciples certainly wouldn’t have known or understood how “good” the day would eventually be as the events were unfolding.
According to NationalToday.com, “The earliest known use of the name ‘Good Friday’ goes back to about 1290 in a text called ‘The South English Legendary.'”
2. Good Friday Wasn’t Celebrated Until the 4th Century
According to Britannica.com, Christians originally disagreed on whether or not Good Friday should be celebrated at all.
“Until the 4th century, Jesus’ Last Supper, his death, and his Resurrection were observed in one single commemoration on the evening before Easter. Since then, those three events have been observed separately—Easter, as the commemoration of Jesus’ Resurrection, being considered the pivotal event.”
3. The Date Changes Every Year
Just like Christmas, Good Friday doesn’t fall on the actual date that Jesus died (though it does come much closer). Instead, the date changes every year to match the Jewish lunisolar calendar, rather than the Gregorian solar calendar.
According to Britannica.com, this means Good Friday can range from March 20th to April 23rd, with Easter always falling two days later.
4. Virtually Every Scholar Agrees: Jesus Certainly Existed
Whether or not you believe the entire Bible is true and factual, most scholars agree that Jesus was a historical figure who walked the Earth two thousand years ago. While the Bible does give us the bulk of our information about Jesus, it isn’t the only historical document or artifact we have that points to his existence.
According to NationalToday.com, “Just about every scholar of antiquity believes that Jesus was a historical figure. New Testament expert Bart Ehrman writes that ‘(Jesus) certainly existed, as virtually every competent scholar of antiquity, Christian or non-Christian, agrees.'”
5. “Good” Friday Doesn’t Mean Pleasant or Enjoyable
While Christians today certainly see Good Friday as a “good” thing (since Jesus made it possible for us to join him in Heaven after this life is over), the “Good” in “Good Friday” was originally used the way we use the word today.
Scholars disagree on the exact history of the word, but there are a few notable theories that make sense.
Some believe that the term “good” originates from the old English translation, which meant holy or pious. (Similar to how we use the phrase “the good book” today, when referring to the Bible.
Others believe the word evolved from the phrase “God’s Friday,” similar to how “holy day” gradually morphed into “holiday.”
6. The Old Testament Contains Numerous Prophecies About Jesus’s Death
The disciples may have been shocked, confused, and frightened by the events of the original Good Friday, but they weren’t a surprise to God. In fact, the Old Testament contains numerous references that demonstrate that this was God’s plan all along.
Here are just a few:
- Isaiah 53:4 says, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.”
- Isaiah 53:7 says, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”
- Psalm 34:20 says, “he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.”
7. Jesus’s Death Coincided with Several Miracles
Jesus’s resurrection wasn’t the only miracle that happened on Easter weekend. The Bible tells us that several miraculous events happened during the time Jesus was on the cross!
For instance, we read the following in Matthew 27:
- “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land” (v. 45).
- “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (v. 51a).
- “The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. (v. 51b-52a)
- The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.” (v. 52b)
8. Jesus Didn’t Stay in the Tomb for Three Whole Days
While we traditionally think of Jesus being in the tomb for three days, it wasn’t a full three days.
Jesus was only in the tomb for part of 3 different days — Friday night, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning — not a full 72 hours.
9. Scholars May Have Jesus’s Actual Burial Cloth
While Bible scholars can’t be sure, many believe that we have the actual shroud Jesus was buried in.
Known as the Shroud of Turin, or the Holy Shroud, this long linen has markings some believe to be from Jesus himself. The duplicating pattern reveals where the shroud was folded after use, but if you look closely, you can see an impression of a face.
While there is no way to know for sure, due to the shroud’s partially undocumented history, this is certainly an amazing discovery if accurate!
10. In Some Countries, Good Friday is a Nationally Recognized Holiday
Good Friday isn’t recognized as a federal holiday in the United States, but in many countries with a strong Christian background, it is a national, federal, or public holiday celebrated throughout the country.
These countries include: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and others.
While not recognized federally in the United States, some individual states do officially observe the holiday. These include: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas, New Jersey, North Carolina, and North Dakota.
11. Good Friday Isn’t Technically Part of Lent
While many people think of Lent as lasting from Ash Wednesday until Easter Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday aren’t technically included in the 40-day count. Together, these three days are known as the “holy triduum,” and they take place between Lent and Easter.
12. Many Catholics Fast and Abstain from Meat on Good Friday
For Catholic Christians, Good Friday is one of two days where they are required to both fast and give up meat in religious observance. (The other day is Ash Wednesday.)
The Catholic Lent Fasting Rules can be a little tricky to understand — there are lots of exemptions and exceptions — but they quickly become second nature to devout Catholics who practice the tradition every year.
13. In Bermuda, People Fly Kites
If you happen to be in Bermuda over Easter weekend, you might take part in a few fun traditions. According to NationalToday.com, “In Bermuda, it’s traditional to fly a kite on Good Friday, symbolizing both the cross and Jesus rising to heaven.”
14. Some People Eat Sweet Cross Buns on Good Friday
Looking for another fun tradition? (Perhaps the skies are too cloudy to fly kites.)
Many people celebrate Good Friday by eating hot sweet cross buns or, their fun alternative, Resurrection Rolls.
With a sweet cinnamon coating and a yummy disappearing marshmallow center, Resurrection Rolls are a fun (and delicious!) way to celebrate and teach young children about Jesus’s death and resurrection.
15. Good Friday Has Remained a Religion Holiday, Not a Secular One
While some Christian holidays, notably Christmas and Easter, have become more mainstream and popular, Good Friday has managed to stick to its religious roots.
The way Christians celebrate may vary from country to country, but the focus remains the same. Good Friday is a day of sorrowing, mourning, and gratitude as we remember the incredible sacrifice Jesus made for us, to restore us to a right relationship with him.
And that’s definitely something worth celebrating!
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Spring has sprung which means it will soon be Easter! This year, Easter is on Sunday, March 31.
There are so many fun ways to celebrate, from Resurrection Rolls to Easter eggs to Easter baking.
Here are ten “egg-citing” Easter ideas that are great for the whole family — whether that’s your own kids, your grandkids, the kids you babysit, or any kids who may volunteer with.
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Prayer is a powerful way to connect with the divine, seek guidance, and find solace in times of need. While long, heartfelt prayers have their place, short prayers can be equally effective in conveying our thoughts and feelings to a higher power.
These fifteen short prayers are highly effective and easy to incorporate into your daily life.
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Brittany Ann is an ECPA bestselling author and founder of Equipping Godly Women and Monetize My Ministry. She’s also a Christian speaker, podcaster, and conference host. Her work has been featured on numerous TV, radio, and online ministries, including CBN, MSN, Christianity Today, Evangelical Alliance, Patheos, Crosswalk, and more.
