Good Friday

What is Good Friday?

On Good Friday, Christians remember the crucifixion and death of Jesus. It is the Friday before Easter Sunday and one of the most solemn days of the Christian year. Many churches hold services in the afternoon, around the time Jesus is said to have died.

The day is the climax of Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday and includes Maundy Thursday, the commemoration of the Last Supper.

Because Good Friday is always two days before Easter Sunday, its date moves every year, between late March and late April.

In 2027 it falls on Friday, March 26.

Good Friday in the United States

Good Friday is not a federal holiday. Federal offices, the post office and most businesses are open as usual. A few states and many schools, however, give the day off, and the major U.S. stock exchanges are traditionally closed.

For many Christians it is a day of church services, fasting or abstaining from meat. Whether you have the day off depends on your state, your school district and your employer.

Banks and the post office are generally open, as are most stores. If your children's school is closed, it is often because spring break has been scheduled around Easter.