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Today is a statutory holiday in Canada called, “Good Friday.” This is a holiday that takes place every year on the Friday before Easter (see blog post, “Easter In Canada” – to be posted on April 1, 2024). Since it is statutory, many Canadians do not have to work on this day, which means that many enjoy a long weekend.

Good Friday commemorates the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. For some religious denominations, this is considered a day of mourning, while for others it is a day of hope, as it is seen as a precursor to Jesus’ resurrection, the act of God that made salvation possible.

Depending on a person’s beliefs, observance of this day varies: for those who do not participate in the Christian faith, Good Friday is typically a day for relaxation; for those who do participate in the Christian faith, this holiday is typically spent in part (depending on creed) at church in a service or mass, in fellowship with others (friends, family, neighbours, parishioners, etc.), fasting, and/or with a special meal. Regardless of an individual’s beliefs, this day might also serve as an early Easter celebration. With families growing in Canada, it can be difficult to celebrate with everyone on one day, so many people spread the Easter festivities over the long weekend, sometimes starting on Good Friday.

Do you celebrate Good Friday where you are from? What will you be doing today? Is this holiday new to you? Let me know in the comments below.

To learn about more Canadian holidays, including vocabulary related to these holidays, check out the Holidays link in the Tags section of our blog.

ATTRIBUTION: Thumbnail photo courtesy of Aaron Burden on Unsplash.