Good Friday arrives soon, and with it, the somber remembrance of the events that took place 2,000 years ago. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ was betrayed by one of his followers and crucified on a cross by the Romans, a part of God's plan to send salvation to mankind. Christians worldwide have celebrated this turning point in history, but every culture celebrates it in a different way based on denomination, governmental legislation and geographic location. The United States, for example, does not recognize Good Friday as an official federal holiday, but some states do observe it. Many times, public schools and universities are closed, though they might consider it as part of spring break, and some businesses have a partial day.
In Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, though, Good Friday is an official public holiday. Schools and businesses are closed for the day, and in the U.K., the BBC kicks off its 7 a.m. News broadcast on Radio 4 with a verse from the hymn "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," by Isaac Watts. The varying level of intensity with which countries celebrate the religious holiday, however, is many times determined by the religion itself. The Philippines is a primarily Roman Catholic country, and therefore there are many processions and reenactments of the Passion of Christ.
Many churches hold mass, and religious content is broadcast nationwide. In the Mexico City suburb of Iztapalapa, 4,000 actors from the area depict the walk Jesus made with the cross on his back to Calvary, where he was nailed to that cross. An actor is chosen to play Jesus, usually based off of his morality and physicality, and is given a crown of thorns and flogged with a 200-pound cross strung across his back. He is then tied to the cross. The Roman Catholic Church has its own way of honoring the day, with fasting and masses and liturgies.
The Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Christian churches have fasts, matins and vespers in commemoration. Protestant traditions may include the Eucharist — the consumption of the bread and the wine for the Lord's Supper — and special services. No matter where you go, many countries all recognize one common thing: Jesus' death 2,000 years ago and the preparation for His triumphant resurrection through the nearby holiday of Easter. If you recognize and celebrate these religious holidays, have a Good Friday.