Good Friday is the day on which Lord Jesus was crucified. Good Friday is also known as Holy Friday. Good Friday is followed by Easter Sunday which is the day on which Lord Jesus came back after his crucifixion. Read on to know more about the significance of Good Friday.

Good Friday is the Friday that comes just before the Easter Sunday and Christians all over the world believe that Jesus Christ died that day after being hanged on the cross. The entire week is considered holy and auspicious as they live in the hope of life after death just like Jesus rose on first Easter.

Significance of Good Friday

Christians believe that Jesus sacrificed his life for the sins of the world. Some people stay fasting and meditating throughout the day to show the agony and pain that they feel because Jesus was hanged on cross and nailed and left to die there. But most of the Christians believe that the 'good' about Good Friday is the hope of resurrection and new life that was showered on Jesus from God.

Good Friday is one of the crucial moments in Christians' lives and has great traditional significance too. Jesus sacrificed his life to help human beings get rid of the sins that separate them from God. This was the time when people lost hope. But very soon, when Jesus rose from death, it created hope and anticipation in people's mind and heart.

Rituals followed on the Occasion of Good Friday

People cover all crosses, images and statuettes in black and mourn for Christ's death by extinguishing the candles as well. Attend Good Friday Service that is held in churches. Some churches enact the entire scene and spread the words of Jesus among people. Some churches keep it sober and solemn and have prayers and readings from bible. Traditions do vary from country to country but the message and the intention remains the same. The way of expressing their love for Jesus is different from people of different locations. No matter how people celebrate, there is a somber tone of remembrance along with regret but there is always hope.

Message of Good Friday

Good Friday's message is that goodness can never be won by evil. This means goodness, non violence and love should be the weapons of people and with that they can conquer evil, violence and hatred.

Jesus Christ taught people to have complete trust in God and love their enemies too. No one should judge others and always do only that to others that you would like them do to you.

Good Friday and Hot Cross Buns

There is a direct connection of hot cross buns with Good Friday. In fact they symbolise this traditional day. Nowadays you will find that these buns are sold during Easter time in every bakery and each bun has a cross on it. There was a time when they were sold on streets and there is a nursery rhyme too that was made keeping hot cross buns and the vendors in mind.

However, hot cross buns were not originally associated to Christianity or Good Friday. It was perhaps in twelfth century when a Father of a popular church started distributing hot cross buns to poor on Good Friday. There have been many controversies and debates in this field and in many places hot cross buns are allowed only during the Easter week and on funerals.

Traditions, rituals and type of celebration varies from country, location and thinking of the people. This is mainly because on one hand it was the death of Jesus that makes people sad and on the other hand the resurrection brings in hope. So most of the people spend their day fasting and saying prayers, giving alms to the poor and doing all the good things that they can do for mankind.