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Why is Good Friday Called Good?

Komal Bakhru Mar 29, 2024
Almost everybody's heard of Good Friday, but how many people know what it's all about? In fact, very surely, the one question that rules a lot of people's minds is, why Good Friday called good? Let us find out.
As children, our only purpose to looking forward to Easter was the Easter bunny, and those delectable Easter eggs. But what happens to the religious aspect? How many people have ever been curious about something like, why is Easter celebrated, or anything on those lines.
For that matter, how many people have ever been curious about the significance of Good Friday. We'll take a look at any possible question that you may have, regarding this holy day.

Facts About Good Friday

The Friday that immediately follows Maundy Thursday is the day we all know as Good Friday. As paradoxical as it may sound, there are reasons for this day to be referred to as Good Friday. Perhaps, we can go over what they are...
There has been much confusion in the mind's of many people about the term 'Good Friday', for the day marks the crucifixion and death of Christ. This confusion seems only right, especially if you consider the meaning of the word 'good' in the general sense of the term.
For some, "good" means holy, while for others, it stems from "God's Friday". Also called Karfreitag or Sorrowful Friday in German, Holy Friday in Romance languages, Feria VI in Roman Missal, and he hagia kai megale paraskeue or The Holy and Great Friday in Greek Liturgy, its origins are varied.
The real reason behind referring to this day as 'good' is vague, but to some, it is about the Resurrection of the Lord, that followed on the day that is celebrated as Easter Sunday. For all those who were believers, this resurrection was a new found faith and belief.
Another reason that is believed for the day being called Good Friday is that the death of Christ acts as a reminder to us, telling us that it was human sin that caused his death, and that salvation is attained only by godly sorrow.
In order for us to experience joy, or happiness, it is important for us, mankind, to experience sorrow too. It is because of the sorrow of the death of Jesus Christ that man could experience the joy of him coming back to life.
It is also said that the name Good Friday could well be derived from 'God's Friday', which is something like deriving goodbye from 'God be with ye'. The principle behind calling it good is believed as that of the barrier of sin being broken.
Yet another explanation towards the name is that no tragedy, not even death, is so big that it can overshadow the love and grace of God. By that logic too, it seems rational, because it only validates the Christian belief in God.
The irony lies in the belief that the English phrase comes from its German counterpart. However, while Karfreitag translates to Sorrowful or Suffering Friday, it seems unlikely that it's the origin of the English term.
The day commemorates Jesus Christ's death on the cross, because he sacrificed his life for all mankind. Whatever the belief, the thought that Easter is in celebration of Christ's victory over death, sin, and all things inhumane, is what counts at the end of it all.