GoodFridayisthedayofgriefforCatholicsasJesusChristwascrucifiedonthisday.ReadontoknowmoreaboutthehistorybehindGoodFridayandritualsfollowedonGoodFriday.OntheoccasionofGoodFriday,ChristiansacrosstheworldcommemoratethearrestofJesus,histrial,crucifixionanddeathatCalvarybyofferingprayersandreadingoutGoodFridaysermons.ItisadayonwhichpeoplelamentthedeathofJesusChristandthesufferingsandagonywhichhehadtoundergobeforebeingcrucified.CandlesareextinguishedandstatuesarecoveredinblackinmanychurchestomournthedeathofJesus.PassagesarereadoutfromGospelandprayerservicesareheldafterpeopletakeouttheWayoftheCrossprocession.InthisarticleGoodFridayin2012HistorybehindGoodFridayGoodFridayRitualsGoodFridayIdeasforFamiliesTheThreeHoursFinishLongPendingJobsGoodFridayin2012GoodFriday,thedayonwhichChristianslamentthedeathofJesusChristfallsthisyearon6April2012.CelebrationswillbeheldonthisdateandwillcontinuetillEasterSundaywhichmarkstheresurrectionofChrist.HistorybehindGoodFridayGoodFridayisaholydaywhichcommemoratesthecrucifixionofJesus.AccordingtotheBible,JesusChristisbelievedtohavediedataround3p.m.intheafternoon.Hewascrucifiedin33ADforthesakeofhumanity.Hisdeathisbelievedtobeavictoryofgoodoverevil.Mostoftheworld’soldestreligionsrecognisetheneedofsacrificeforhumansins.ChristiansbelievethatJesuswasthemediumbetweenhumanandGod.HehadbornethepunishmentonbehalfofthesinfulhumanraceandwasthereforetheperfectsinlesssubstituteofGod.EffectivelyChristiansbelievethathehadbridgedthegapbetweenhumansandgodandisthereforealsoknownasthesonofGod.GoodFridayRitualsTheritualsandtraditionsofGoodFridayaredistinctfromthoseofallotherChurchobservances.GoodFridayisobservedasasomberceremony.Inchurchespriestsanddeaconsdressinblackvestments.ThepulpitandthealtararenormallykeptbarewithaviewtocreateanawarenessofgriefoverthesacrificeofChrist.GoodFridayIdeasforFamiliesMostofthelongstandingtraditionspertainingtoGoodFridayaimatrememberingJesusChristandthesacrificehemadeforthesinsofhumans.HerearesomeGoodFridayideasforfamiliestofollow:TheThreeHours-ItisbelievedthatJesusChristactuallysufferedfor3hoursafterbeingcrucifiedonthecross.HenceinmanychurchesprayerservicesareheldforthreehoursonthedayofGoodFridayduringthetimewhichisbelievedtobetheonewhenChristsufferedontheCross.Therefore,athomesitmaybeappropriateforpeopletoobserveaperiodofsilencefromnoonto3o’clockintheafternoon.Duringthisperiodofsilenceitwouldbeidealifradioandtelevisionremainswitchedoffandpeopleconcentrateonreadingorlisteningtoprayer.FinishLongPendingJobs-TohighlightandappreciatethedrearinessappropriatetoGoodFridayitmaybeworthwhileforpeopletochooseanyunpleasantactivitythattheymayhavebeenputtingoffforalongtime.Itcouldbeanyhouseholdactivitylikecleaningthebathroomtiles,kitchencupboardsorthegarage.Childrencanbeaskedtocleantheirplayareas.OlderchildrencanbeencouragedtodrawpicturesofChrist,thecrossoranysuchthingrelevanttoGoodFriday.TheCatholicChurchtreatsGoodFridayasadayoffasting.OnthisdayCatholicsfastandrefrainfromeatingmeatoronemealoftheday.ToexpresstheirgriefonthedeathofChrist,mournersdressthemselvesinblackclothes.
Good Friday is the day of grief for Catholics as Jesus Christ was crucified on this day. Read on to know more about the history behind Good Friday and rituals followed on Good Friday. On the occasion of
Good Friday, Christians across the world commemorate the arrest of Jesus, his trial, crucifixion and death at Calvary by offering prayers and reading out Good Friday sermons. It is a day on which people lament the death of Jesus Christ and the sufferings and agony which he had to undergo before being crucified.
Candles are extinguished and statues are covered in black in many churches to mourn the death of Jesus. Passages are read out from Gospel and prayer services are held after people take out the Way of the Cross procession.
Good Friday in 2012
Good Friday, the day on which Christians lament the death of Jesus Christ falls this year on 6 April 2012. Celebrations will be held on this date and will continue till Easter Sunday which marks the resurrection of Christ.
History behind Good Friday
Good Friday is a holy day which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ is believed to have died at around 3 p.m. in the afternoon. He was crucified in 33 A D for the sake of humanity. His death is believed to be a victory of good over evil.
Most of the world’s oldest religions recognise the need of sacrifice for human sins. Christians believe that Jesus was the medium between human and God. He had borne the punishment on behalf of the sinful human race and was therefore the perfect sinless substitute of God. Effectively Christians believe that he had bridged the gap between humans and god and is therefore also known as the son of God.
Good Friday Rituals
The rituals and traditions of Good Friday are distinct from those of all other Church observances. Good Friday is observed as a somber ceremony. In churches priests and deacons dress in black vestments. The pulpit and the altar are normally kept bare with a view to create an awareness of grief over the sacrifice of Christ.
Good Friday Ideas for Families
Most of the long standing traditions pertaining to Good Friday aim at remembering Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he made for the sins of humans. Here are some Good Friday ideas for families to follow:
The Three Hours -
It is believed that Jesus Christ actually suffered for 3 hours after being crucified on the cross. Hence in many churches
prayer services are held for three hours on the day of Good Friday during the time which is believed to be the one when Christ suffered on the Cross. Therefore, at homes it may be appropriate for people to observe a period of silence from noon to 3 o’clock in the afternoon. During this period of silence it would be ideal if radio and television remain switched off and people concentrate on reading or listening to prayer.
Finish Long Pending Jobs -
To highlight and appreciate the dreariness appropriate to Good Friday it may be worthwhile for people to choose any unpleasant activity that they may have been putting off for a long time. It could be any household activity like cleaning the bathroom tiles, kitchen cupboards or the garage. Children can be asked to clean their play areas. Older children can be encouraged to draw pictures of Christ, the cross or any such thing relevant to Good Friday.
The Catholic Church treats Good Friday as a day of fasting. On this day Catholics fast and refrain from eating meat or one meal of the day. To express their grief on the death of Christ, mourners dress themselves in black clothes.
