Good Friday

Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday and may coincide with the Jewish observance of Passover. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, and Black Friday.

Members of many Christian denominations, including the Oriental Orthodox, Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and Reformed traditions, observe Good Friday with fasting and church services.

The date of Good Friday varies from one year to the next on both the Gregorian and Julian calendars. Eastern and Western Christianity disagree over the computation of the date of Easter and therefore of Good Friday. Good Friday is a widely instituted legal holiday around the world, including in most Western countries and 12 U.S. states. Some countries, such as Germany, have laws prohibiting certain acts, such as dancing and horse racing, that are seen as profaning the solemn nature of the day.

In the United States, Good Friday is not a government holiday at the federal level; however, individual states, counties, and municipalities may observe the holiday. State and local government offices and courts are closed, as well as some banks and post offices in these states and in those counties and municipalities where Good Friday is observed as a holiday.

In the U.K., Good Friday was historically a common-law holiday and is recognized as an official public holiday (also known as a Bank Holiday).

Good Friday is a holiday under state and territory laws in all states and territories in Australia.

In Canada, Good Friday is a federal statutory holiday. In the province of Quebec, employers can choose to give the day off either on Good Friday or Easter Monday.

From Wikipedia