Here's everything to know about Good Friday, including the holiday's history and traditions
Every Christian knows the story: Jesus Christ died and rose again for the forgiveness of mankind’s sins, promising eternal life to those who believe in him. But with Easter comes a question many of us might have asked at some point: What is Good Friday? While Easter Sunday gets all the spotlight with egg hunts, family brunches and a little too much chocolate, Good Friday quietly marks the serious moments leading up to the big celebration.
Only 12 states recognize it as an official holiday, and many people aren’t sure why it’s observed at all. So what is Good Friday, really? Read on to discover the history and meaning behind this important day. You might be surprised by what you learn.
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What is Good Friday?
Simply put, Good Friday is the day for Christians to commemorate Jesus’s crucifixion. But what happened on Good Friday? On this day, according to the Bible, the Jewish religious leaders—who had condemned Jesus the night before for claiming to be the son of God and king of the Jews—brought him to the Romans for sentencing. He was sent from Pontius Pilate to Herod and then back to Pilate, who ultimately sentenced Jesus to crucifixion—the highest form of criminal punishment at the time. Jesus was then beaten, forced to carry a heavy wooden cross through jeering crowds and finally nailed to the cross by his wrists and feet, where he hung until he died, later that day.
Is Good Friday a public holiday?
Good Friday is more than just a religious observance; it’s also a recognized state public holiday. Many state government offices shut down, and some schools and businesses close their doors.
When is Good Friday 2026?
In 2026, Good Friday falls on Friday, April 3. Easter falls on Sunday, April 5. Since Good Friday and Easter fall on a different date each year, here are the upcoming dates for both:
- Good Friday 2027: Friday, March 26, 2027; Easter 2027: Sunday, March 28, 2027
- Good Friday 2028: Friday, April 14, 2028; Easter 2028: Sunday, April 16, 2028
- Good Friday 2029: Friday, March 30, 2029; Easter 2029: Sunday, April 1, 2029
Why is it called Good Friday?
Given its grim origins, calling this holiday “Good Friday” probably sounds counterintuitive. But the word “good” has a different meaning here. In this context, it “designates a day on (or sometimes a season in) which religious observance is held,” Fiona MacPherson, senior editor of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), told the BBC. Put another way, the term refers to “a day or season observed as holy by the church,” per the OED.
What are the symbols of Good Friday?
The symbols of Good Friday include the cross or crucifix and a black cloth. The cross represents the way Jesus sacrificed his life, while the black cloth, often draped over crosses, paintings or statues in churches and homes, is a powerful sign of mourning.
How is Good Friday observed?
If you’re wondering what Catholics and other Christians do on Good Friday, well, it’s a day of somber reflection. The Friday before Easter, Christians solemnly honor the way Jesus suffered and died for their sins. Here are a few ways they honor the day:
- Church service: Attend a service that recounts Jesus’s painful crucifixion
- Fasting: Some Christians even refrain from eating to show their sorrow
- Altar stripping: Catholic churches strip their altars bare and muffle their bells as a sign of mourning, according to Catholic.org.
- Public marches: In some countries, believers host a procession, where they march with images and statues of Jesus (sometimes reenacting his crucifixion). For example, in New York City, there’s A Way of the Cross procession, where hundreds of people walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, starting at the Cathedral Basilica of St. James and ending at St. Andrew’s Church.
- Stations of the Cross: During this 14-step practice, Christians retrace Jesus’ final steps before his crucifixion.
But Christians soon turn to happier festivities: On the following Sunday, they celebrate Easter—the day of Jesus’s resurrection—with church services, joyous songs and family gatherings.
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Sources:
- The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention: “5 facts about Good Friday and Easter”
- Christianity.com: “What’s So Good About Good Friday?”
- BBC: “Who, What, Why: Why Is Good Friday Called Good Friday?”
- Catholic.org: “Good Friday”
- TimeandDate: “Good Friday 2026 in the United States”
- CBS News: “Good Friday in NYC: Christians walk for peace in Way of the Cross procession”
