How To Observe Good Friday

If you’re a Catholic between the ages of 18 and 59 and healthy, fast on Good Friday. Catholic guidelines allow one full meal and two small snacks. No meat is allowed. Some members of the Orthodox Church abstain from all food, and many Protestant churches also encourage some form of fasting.

Do not light any candles on Good Friday. Limiting light signifies the sadness of the day.

Remain somber and reflective during the most sacred hours of the day: between noon and 3 p.m., the hours Christ was on the cross.

Attend church services. Some Orthodox Christians stage a reenactment of Christ’s burial, and some Protestant churches hold their service in the dark. Catholics traditionally hold a 3 p.m. service, as well as an evening Stations of the Cross ceremony, where Christ’s final hours are reenacted.

Because Good Friday is a day of penance and meditation, spend some time before bed thinking about how you can atone for your sins and be a better person.