Good Friday 2023 Holiday (Friday, 7th April 2023)
Christians all around the world celebrated Good Friday as it commemorates the day Jesus was cruxified.The day is also known as Holy Friday. Germany recalls it as ‘Sorrowful Friday’ or Karfreitag. Read on to know more about Good Friday 2023.
| Good Friday 2023 Date | 7th April |
| Good Friday 2023 Day | Friday |
| Significance | Commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus |
| Also Known as | Holy Friday, Great Friday |
| Observed By | Christians |
When is Good Friday in 2023?
This year’s Good Friday 2023 date falls on 7th April.
What is the Meaning of Good Friday?
Good Friday serves as a time to reflect on Jesus’ suffering and death before celebrating his resurrection on Easter Sunday. It serves as a reminder of Christ’s supreme offering, which was made to atone for all of humanity’s sins.
Why is the Good Friday 2023 Festival Celebrated?
Christians celebrate Good Friday Holiday as a day of remembrance of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. According to Christian belief, Jesus was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, arrested, tried, and condemned to death by the Roman authorities. He was then crucified and died on the cross, offering himself as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity.
Good Friday Quotes
- “May the spirit of this auspicious day give you the courage to stay on God’s path. Good Friday!”
- “May on this Holy Friday, the sacrifice of Lord Jesus infuse your life with inspiration and new hope to follow the path of truth and redemption.”
- “The cross of Jesus Christ is the symbolic representation of God’s deepest and unending love for humanity. Have a blessed Good Friday 2023!”
Good Friday History
The Good Friday story takes us back to the 1st century AD when Jesus Christ was crucified by the Roman authorities in Jerusalem. Christians believe that his crucifixion made salvation and forgiveness of sins possible. The day is marked by special services and customs in many Christian churches, and it is observed worldwide as a day of solemn reflection and mourning. Good Friday prepares believers for the celebration of Easter, which commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Significance of Good Friday
Good Friday is a significant day for Christians because it commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. The day holds significance as it marks the fulfilment of prophecies in the Old Testament, symbolizes the sacrifice of Jesus, reveals the love of God, reminds believers of the gravity of sin, and leads to Easter Sunday – a day of joyous celebration of the resurrection of Jesus and the triumph of life over death. It is a day to reflect on the love and grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus, which brought salvation and forgiveness of sins to believers. Many Christian churches hold special services on this day, including the Stations of the Cross, the Veneration of the Cross, and the reading of the Passion narrative to commemorate this day.
About Good Friday Rituals
Good Friday is observed in different ways by various Christian churches and communities worldwide. Some of the common ways of observing the day include special church services, fasting and abstinence, prayer and meditation, processions and reenactments, and charity and service. Good Friday holiday is a day of solemn reflection and mourning for Christians, as they remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and his crucifixion. The day prepares believers for Easter, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the triumph of life over death.
Good Friday 2023 Related Festivals
1. Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday, also referred to as Holy Thursday, honours Jesus’ last dinner with his disciples and the washing of their feet before he was crucified.
2. Holy Saturday
The day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is Holy Saturday, sometimes referred to as the Great Sabbath. It is a day of mourning for Jesus’ death and preparation for Easter Sunday.
3. Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday honours the resurrected life of Jesus Christ. On Easter Sunday, it is believed that he rose from the dead after being buried for three days.
What is Holy or Maundy Thursday?
Maundy Thursday is the Christian holy day that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples before his crucifixion. It falls on the Thursday before Easter Sunday and is marked by special services, including the washing of feet and the institution of the Eucharist. It is a somber day that reflects the events leading to Jesus’ crucifixion.
Observation of Good Friday Holiday 2023 in India
On Good Friday, a large number of Christians in India attend special church services or pray. On this day, some people also fast or avoid eating meat.
Top places where Good Friday is observed:
1. Mizoram
The most populous Christian state in India, celebrated by attending church, holding parades, fasting and participating in Holy Communion.
2. Nagaland
Nagaland, a Christian dominant state, also celebrated by attending early morning church service, fasting and participating in Holy Communion.
3. Vizag
The people from Vizag fasted all day and attended a church ceremony to celebrate Good Friday. Children and elderly people congregate to take part in a procession.
4. Goa
Goa Christians celebrated by following the Way of the Cross. The Way of the Cross is a dramatization of the activities leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. A wooden cross is brought down the church steps, walked through the city’s streets, and then brought back to the church by the clergymen.
5. Karnataka
In Karnataka, Good Friday is observed with Way of the Cross processions, Passion Plays, and fasting. It is a somber day for reflection and a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice.
6. Kerala
In Kerala, The Christians observed the day by fasting with complete abstinence. Elders will read Puthen Pana, the first Malayalam Christian poem written by a German missionary.
7. Meghalaya
The Christians in Meghalaya celebrate by praying and singing at church and by participating in Holy Communion.
Other Countries where Good Friday is Observed
Other Countries that celebrated Good Friday are
- United Kingdom
- Australia
- United States
- Spain
- Canada
- Brazil
- Argentina
- New Zealand,
- Singapore
- Hong Kong
- Ireland
- Malaysia
Is Good Friday 2023 a Public Holiday?
In India, people visit churches to pray to the Almighty. It is a gazetted holiday for banks, stock markets, IT firms and government offices. You can spend your Good Friday holiday in 2023 in cities such as Vizag, Kochi, Aizawl, Nagaland , Mumbai and Goa. These destinations are well-known for their parades and programmes.
Final Word
Good Friday holiday is a sober day of the sacred week and is not marked with events and fairs. It is a day of mourning, honouring and remembering Jesus’s life. Christians wear black clothes and decorate houses and churches with crosses and statues on this occasion. They sing prayers and hymns in churches and participate in Holy Communion. The importance of Good Friday lies in the fact that it commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus at Calvary. You can observe this year Good Friday 2023 in Mizoram, Nagaland, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala where it is mostly observed.
FAQs
Good Friday remembers Christ’s crucifixion, passion and death. The significant symbol for Good Friday is a crucifix, which illustrates Jesus’s way of dying. Some crosses carry a miniature of Christ. A black cloth used to wrap statues, paintings, and crosses is also a symbol of this occasion.
In the coming four years, people will be celebrating Good Friday on the following dates:
• 2023 – April 07 (week number 14)
• 2024 – March 29 (week number 13)
• 2025 – April 18 (week number 16)
• 2026 – April 3 (week number 14)
The Christian community will be observing Easter 2023 on Sunday, April 9 which is the third day after Jesus was buried. It denotes Jesus Christ’s rebirth and is celebrated during a full moon. Egg decoration is a special feature of the Easter festival. The occasion is symbolized by music, flowers, church bells and church services.
Since Good Friday is not a happy occasion, it is mostly wished by saying Blessed Good Friday.
No, Good Friday is not a national holiday.
Yes, Good Friday is a bank holiday.
The date of Good Friday changes every year because it is based on the date of the first full moon after the vernal equinox which means that the date of Easter, and Good Friday can fall on any day between March 22nd and April 25th.
Disclaimer
This article is solely for educational purposes. Navi doesn't take any responsibility for the information or claims made in the blog.
