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Good Friday falls on Friday, March 26, 2027. That is 150 days away.

Good Friday is the day Christians remember the crucifixion and death of Jesus. It is one of the most solemn days in the Christian year, and it is marked by churches around the world, including many congregations across the United States.

The tone is quiet. Many churches hold services in the afternoon, often around the hours traditionally associated with the crucifixion. Some read the Passion accounts from the Gospels, sometimes with several readers taking parts. Altars may be left bare, candles unlit, and music kept simple or left out entirely.

Practices vary by tradition. Catholic churches do not celebrate a full Mass on this day, and many Catholics fast and avoid meat. Some communities walk the Stations of the Cross, a series of fourteen prayers and reflections on the events leading to the burial of Jesus. Others hold Tre Ore services, three hours of prayer, readings and silence.

Outside church walls, the day leaves traces in ordinary life. Fish dinners appear on restaurant menus and at parish halls. Hot cross buns, a spiced, sweet bread marked with a cross on top, show up in bakeries. Some families keep the day calm and simple at home.

The name has puzzled many people, since the day remembers a death. A common explanation is that "good" once carried the sense of holy, which fits the way the day is kept: with stillness rather than noise.

Ways to celebrate

• Attend a Good Friday service at a local church, if it is your tradition.
• Learn about the Stations of the Cross and what each one represents.
• Bake or buy hot cross buns and share them with neighbors.
• Set aside a quiet hour for reading, prayer or reflection.

Dates

All national days on March 26

Also on March 26

• National Spinach Day
• National Make Up Your Own Holiday Day
• National Nougat Day
• National Science Appreciation Day
• Solitude Day

Categories: Religious days