Why Good Friday 2025 Hits Deep Roots in Christian Faith
When April 18, 2025, rolls around, churches across the globe will feel the weight of history. Good Friday isn’t just another date on the religious calendar—it marks the day Christians look back at the brutal crucifixion of Jesus Christ. As the cornerstone event that cuts to the heart of Christian beliefs, it’s all about grief, quiet reflection, and the chance to hit pause on daily noise to think about sacrifice and renewal.
The story goes back nearly 2,000 years. According to the gospels, Jesus died nailed to a cross outside Jerusalem, sentenced in a political and religious storm. This death is viewed not as defeat, but as the moment when sacrifice leads to ultimate hope—because for Christians, everything changes with the resurrection on Easter Sunday. That’s why Good Friday lands front and center in Holy Week, sitting right between the emotional highs of Palm Sunday and the celebration of Easter.
But here’s something you might not know: the name “Good Friday” can puzzle even long-time churchgoers. Why call a day that remembers such suffering and death ‘good’? Some historians argue it’s a twist on “God’s Friday” or “Holy Friday.” Others focus on the deep meaning—because this day, though awful on the surface, leads to salvation and hope, so it ends up being ‘good’ for all who believe.
Traditions, Fasting, and What Actually Happens on Good Friday
If you’ve ever spent time with devout Christians during Holy Week, you’ll spot an unmistakable tone shift on Good Friday. It’s a no-frills, stripped-down kind of day. Most folks wear dark or simple clothes, and churches often remove colorful decorations. Bells remain silent. The mood? Sober and pared-back, to match the serious subject matter.
A big part of the day is dedicated to special services, particularly during the hours from noon to 3 pm, called the Great Three Hours’ Agony. These hours are thought to mirror the time when Jesus hung on the cross, as described in the gospel accounts. Services might include readings from scripture, meditative hymns, and periods of silent prayer. In some places, people walk the Stations of the Cross—a series of images or plaques representing moments from the Good Friday story.
Food rules on Good Friday don’t look the same everywhere, but plenty of Christians take up fasting or ditch certain foods, especially meat. In Roman Catholic and some Protestant churches, followers tend to eat only one full meal with up to two lighter snacks and avoid meat altogether—it’s all about feeling that physical discipline and turning focus away from daily comforts, even just for a day. For Orthodox Christians, the fasting can be stricter. For some, it’s a chance to give away what they would have eaten, using that moment for charity—blood drives and food donations often get a boost around this time.
- Fasting: One full meal, two smaller ones, no meat.
- Charity: Donations and acts of kindness are encouraged.
- Silence and Simplicity: Churches are toned down; rituals focus on mourning and prayer.
Good Friday is intertwined with two other days: Maundy Thursday (when the Last Supper is remembered) and Holy Saturday (the day before Easter). Altogether, they make up the Paschal Triduum—a dramatic three-part moment that brings Christians face-to-face with the ‘big picture’ story of sacrifice, waiting, and new hope that’s at the core of the faith.
This day stands out for its mix of world-famous traditions and quiet, personal moments. Whether you’re standing in a packed cathedral or taking a walk in the park, the message is pretty clear: take a beat to remember what sacrifice, empathy, and hope look like—with Easter’s promise just over the horizon.