Good Friday 2019: How and Why Christians celebrate the holy day

Christians all over the world will be celebrating Good Friday on April 19, 2019. The day is also known as Holy Friday or Black Friday. It is celebrated after Maundy Thursday which is also known as the Last Supper that Christ had with his disciples.

Good Friday is preceded by 40 days of Lent during which the Christians observe fast, attend church for prayers and also eat only vegetarian food. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday until its conclusion on Easter Sunday.

As per the Bible, Jesus Christ who had gathered a huge following through his preachings earned the wrath of the Temple priests who got a judgment passed against him of being hanged on a cross till death. He was then taken to the hill of skulls also known as Golgotha or Cavalry. He agonized for six hours on the cross but also prayed to God to forgive his torturers before his death. The day Christ died is known as Good Friday and the day he rose back to life is celebrated as Easter.

On Good Friday Jesus Christ was crucified but before his crucifixion, he was flogged and tortured by the Romans. On this day Christians observe fasting and praying as they remember the judgment, passion, crucifixion, death, and burial of Jesus Christ. In dying, Christians believe Jesus took on all the sins of the world and thus it is only through his sacrifice, that they are redeemed and allowed to enter into heaven.

Good Friday is celebrated by fasting and praying. Many Church services are held in the afternoon, usually around noon or midday to 3 pm, to remember the hours when Jesus was crucified on the cross. Many places also reach the final hours of Jesus’ life.

In Jerusalem, Christians follow in Jesus’ footsteps and walk the very same path leading to the site of the crucifixion. Many who participate try to ritually bear the same weight Jesus did by carrying crosses on their backs.

‘Good Friday’ is followed by Easter Sunday when people celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Christians believe Jesus was crucified on Good Friday and rose again three days later – which is marked as Easter. The three days are known as the Easter Triduum. On this day eggs hold a special place and people share gifts shaped like eggs.