Good Friday

Good Friday History

Good Friday is dedicated to commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and His subsequent death at Calvary. Deemed a day of sorrow, prayer and fasting, Good Friday is part of Holy Week, preceding Easter Sunday. Christian faithful regard it as the day when Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for humanity, paying the price for mankind's sins, and thus it is marked with solemnity and reverence.

Historically, Good Friday observance establishes a connection between the sufferings of African people during colonial times and apartheid with the suffering of Jesus Christ. Emphasizing the idea of liberation theology, South Africans relate heavily to the hardship, sacrifice, and ultimate victory of Jesus Christ. Importantly, the holiday also represents peace and tolerance in modern South Africa after apartheid, embodying unity among diverse religions and cultures.

In South Africa, Good Friday is observed by Christians of various denominations through church services, prayer, meditation and scriptural readings related to Jesus Christ's crucifixion. Many individuals also engage in fasting or abstaining from meat. Processions and Passion Plays that depict the final hours of Jesus are also common. It is a public holiday in South Africa, occurring between 20 March and 23 April, with many businesses closing, mirroring the notion of respect associated with this critical religious day.

Facts about Good Friday

• In the Orthodox tradition, the day is called Holy and Great Friday. In typical Orthodox services, a cross is removed from the church sanctuary and the congregation observes a service that focuses on Christ's burial in the tomb.
• A service called Tenebrae is often held on Good Friday. It focuses on reading the scriptures that describe Jesus' arrest, trial, beating, and crucifixion. In the Roman Catholic Church, Tenebrae may be celebrated on Holy Thursday. Another variation, called Tre Ore, or three hours, is a service that runs typically from noon to 3 p.m., believed to be the time of Jesus' death. It focuses on the last seven phrases that Christ said before his death based on several different gospels. Each phrase is accompanied by a scripture reading, a hymn, and sometimes a short sermon.
• The Way, or Stations, of the Cross is another way that Christians observe Good Friday. It is primarily a Roman Catholic tradition, but some Protestant churches practice it as well. Depictions of the last 12 acts of Jesus' life are placed in the church or are sometimes permanently stationed outside on the church grounds. Worshipers walk from one station to the next in prayer and contemplation.
• Pickled fish and hot cross buns are traditional foods eaten on Good Friday in South Africa. According to South African tradition, the meal is prepared on the Thursday before Good Friday and eaten cold on Good Friday to honor the Christian tradition of avoiding the prep and consumption of warm food on this day.
• The "Three Hours' Agony" or "Tre Ore" is another significant Good Friday ritual that is observed in several South African churches. This is a solemn service focusing on the Seven Last Words of Christ from the cross, with periods of silence, reflection, prayer, or hymn singing, lasting approximately 3 hours, to resemble Jesus's three hours on the cross.

In the News and Trending in South Africa for Good Friday

Top things to do in South Africa for Good Friday

• One tradition on Good Friday is to make and eat hot cross buns. The bread, which is slightly sweet, has a cross on the top that represents the crucifixion. It is thought to be an English tradition that dates back 500 years.
• Attend the KKNK (Klein Karoo National Arts Festival): This arts festival is held annually in Oudtshoorn and features a mix of theater, music, and visual arts.
• Read a book to learn more about Good Friday:
  The Christian Calendar: A Complete Guide to the Seasons of the Christian Year Telling the Story of Christ and the Saints from Advent to Pentecost - by Leonhard Schramm: While not exclusively about Good Friday in South Africa, it provides a thorough overview of Christian traditions, including Good Friday.