Good Friday in Sri Lanka

Good Friday is observed by the Christian community in Sri Lanka as a day of solemn remembrance commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. This day falls on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday and is part of Holy Week.

History and Traditions:

• Good Friday has a deep-rooted history connected to Christian beliefs, marking the culmination of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance.
• In Sri Lanka, where Christianity dates back to the arrival of Portuguese colonialists in the 16th century, this day has been observed for centuries.
• The Christian population, including Catholics and Protestants, engage in various religious activities.

What People Do:

• Many attend special church services which often include reading passages from the Bible related to Jesus’ suffering, veneration of the cross, and hymns reflective of Christ's passion.
• Some services may also perform Passion plays or dramatizations of the Crucifixion.
• It is a day marked by fasting and abstinence; meat is typically avoided as a sign of sacrifice.
• Christians may partake in processions or walkways of the cross (stations) that depict various events leading up to Jesus' death.
• Churches are often adorned with black or purple cloth symbolizing mourning.
• Reflective silence or hours spent in prayer are common practices on Good Friday as well.

In essence, Good Friday in Sri Lanka is a solemn occasion that allows Christians to grieve Christ's death while contemplating their faith's deeper meaning.