Good Friday is a Christian holy day that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum and is known by various names, including Black Friday, Holy Friday, Great Friday, and Good Friday of the Passion of the Lord. This solemn day is a key event in the Christian liturgical calendar, reflecting on the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus.
1916: Creation of Good Friday: A Play in Verse
In 1916, 'Good Friday: A Play in Verse' was created, later performed in 1960 by notable artists.
1955: Reforms of Holy Week Liturgies
Before the reforms of Holy Week liturgies in 1955, black vestments were used throughout Good Friday.
1955: Reform of Holy Week
In 1955, the Catholic Church reformed Holy Week, renaming Good Friday to 'Feria sexta in Passione et Morte Domini' ('Friday of the Passion and Death of the Lord').
1960: 1960 Easter Play Performance
In 1960, Ursula O'Leary and William Devlin performed in a BBC Radiophonic Workshop production of 'Good Friday: A Play in Verse' (1916).
1970: Change in Liturgical Vestments
In 1970, the Catholic Church changed the liturgical colour of vestments used on Good Friday to red; previously, black and violet were used.
1970: New Rite Introduction
In 1970, the Catholic Church introduced a new rite, shortening Good Friday's name to 'Feria sexta in Passione Domini' ('Friday of the Passion of the Lord').
1999: Bridenbaugh v. O'Bannon Case
In 1999, the US Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Indiana state employees could get Good Friday off as a paid holiday, provided the state offered a secular purpose in addition to the religious one.
2008: First Good Friday Betting Shops and Stores Opened
In 2008, betting shops and stores in the UK opened for the first time on Good Friday, breaking a long-standing tradition.
March 2012: Cuba Declares Good Friday a Holiday
In March 2012, Cuban President Raúl Castro decreed that Good Friday would be a holiday, following a request from Pope Benedict XVI. This marked a significant step in Cuba's relations with the Vatican.
2014: First Good Friday Horse Racing Meetings
In 2014, Lingfield Park and Musselburgh staged the UK's first Good Friday horse racing meetings.
2018: Good Friday in Australia
In 2018, Good Friday fell on 30 March, and only Queensland and Victoria had school holidays coinciding with Good Friday. Generally, all schools and universities in Australia close on Good Friday.
2018: Alcohol Sale Ban Lifted in Ireland
In 2018, the ban on selling alcoholic beverages on Good Friday in the Republic of Ireland was lifted, ending a long-standing tradition that had been in place, with some exceptions.