Difference Between Good Friday and Easter Monday

Edited by Diffzy | Updated on: April 30, 2023

       

Difference Between Good Friday and Easter Monday

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Introduction

Apart from Christmas, Good Friday and Easter Monday are two prominent Christian holidays. People all across the world appreciate the significance of Good Friday and Easter Monday and celebrate them in the manner suitable to each of these days. It is very feasible to believe that the word "Good" for Good Friday denotes a certain level of celebration, and hence certain assumptions may be made if Good Friday and Easter Monday are similar. It is important to clarify, however, that Good Friday and Easter Monday are not the same.

Good Friday vs. Easter Monday

The fundamental distinction between Good Friday and Easter Monday is that on Good Friday, Jesus was killed on the cross, but on Easter Sunday (Easter Monday being the day after Easter Sunday), he rose, i.e., Christ was raised from the dead. However, this is not the sole distinction. A comparison of the two words on certain characteristics might provide light on minor aspects.

Difference Between Good Friday and Easter Monday in Tabular Form

Parameters of

Comparison

Good Friday Easter Monday
What does the day represent? It represents the day when Jesus was crucified (nailed) on a cross; it represents Jesus Christ's tremendous agony when he was crucified. The day after Sunday, Where Sunday commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Is Easter Monday included in Good Friday and vice versa? No Yes, Easter Monday follows Easter Sunday, and fasting concludes here.
This day comes after how many days of fasting? 37 40
Festivities and introspection People do not celebrate Good Friday since it is a day of mourning. It might be seen as a day of introspection. Easter Monday is a day of celebration.
Is this a national holiday in all countries? With a few exceptions, yes. No, because some nations will just observe Good Friday as a holiday (example-India)

What Is Good Friday?

Good Friday is sometimes referred to as Holy Friday. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (an ancient punishment). On this day, Jesus Christ was put on a cross and exposed to great cruelty by certain rulers. Good Friday is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday or Monday. Good Friday is a day of fasting. Good Friday is a day when people remember and honor Jesus Christ's sufferings. This memorial is carried out in the church through numerous rites. People will not hold any sort of celebration on Good Friday. It is a fasting day. It is considered a holy day because people reflect in the name of God.

Etymology

'Good Friday' derives from the word "good" in the sense of "pious, holy." Less common idioms based on this archaic sense of "good" include "the good book" for the Bible, "good tide" for "Christmas" or Shrovetide, and "Good Wednesday" for Holy Week's Wednesday. A widespread folk etymology mistakenly interprets "Good Friday" as a distortion of "God Friday," comparable to how "goodbye" is linguistically accurately described as a contraction of "God be with you." The day was known as "Long Friday" in Old English, and analogous terms are still used in Scandinavian languages and Finnish.

Additional Languages

Until 1955, the Catholic Church referred to it as Feria sexta in Parasceve ("Friday of Preparation [for the Sabbath]"). It was called Feria Sexta in Passione et Morte Domini ("Friday of the Passion and Death of the Lord") in the 1955 reform of Holy Week, and it was abbreviated to Feria Sexta in Passione Domini in the new rite implemented in 1970. ("Friday of the Passion of the Lord"). Good Friday is known as Goede Vrijdag in Dutch and Goedfreed in Frisian. In German-speaking countries, it is commonly known as Karfreitag ("Mourning Friday," with Kar derived from the Old High German kara "bewail", "grieve", "mourn", which is related to the English word "care" in the sense of cares and woes), but it is also known as Stiller Freitag ("Silent Friday") and Hoher Freitag ("High Friday") ("High Friday, Holy Friday"). It is known as "Long Friday" in the Scandinavian and Finnish languages, as it was in Old English. It is known in Irish as Aoine a Chéasta, "Friday of the Crucifixion," from céas, "suffer," and in Scottish Gaelic as DihAoine a Cuesta. Dydd Gwener y Groglith, "Friday of the Cross-Reading," refers to Y Groglith, a medieval Welsh book on Jesus' Crucifixion that was customarily read on Good Friday.

It is known as "Great Friday" in Greek, Polish, Hungarian, Romanian, Breton, and Armenian (, Wielki Pitek, Nagypéntek, Vinerea Mare, Gwener ar Groaz, ). In Bulgarian, it is known as eлики етк ("Great Friday") or, more colloquially, аети етк ("Crucified Friday"). It is known as Vendredi saint, Venard Santo, Viernes Santo, and Sexta-Feira Santa ("Holy Friday") in French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, respectively.

Liturgy

The Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and Holy Communion comprise the Good Friday liturgy. The clergy and auxiliary ministers enter the Liturgy of the Word in perfect silence, with no singing. They then do a full prostration in silence. This represents the abasement (fall) of (earthly) mankind. It also represents the Church's anguish and sorrow. The Collect prayer is followed by the reading or chanting of Isaiah 52:13–53:12, Hebrews 4:14–16, Hebrews 5:7–9, and the Passion story from the Gospel of John, which is historically split among three deacons but is frequently read by the celebrant and two additional readers. The readings for Good Friday are drawn from Exodus 12:1-11 and the Gospel according to St. John (John 18:1-40) in the earlier style of the Mass known as Tridentine Mass. (John 19:1-42). The Great Intercessions, also known as orationes sollemnes, are a collection of prayers for the Church, the Pope, the clergy and laity of the Church, those getting ready for baptism, the unity of Christians, Jews, non-Christians, people in public office, people in exceptional need, and non-Christians.

Following each prayer purpose, the deacon invites the faithful to kneel for a brief moment of solitary prayer, after which the celebrant summarises the prayer intention with a Collect-style prayer. Kneeling was deleted from the pre-1955 Holy Week Liturgy save for the prayer for the Jews. The crucifix is formally exposed and exhibited to the assembly during the Adoration of the Cross, and then honored by them, personally if possible and commonly by kissing the wood of the cross, while hymns and the Improperia ("Reproaches") with the Trisagion hymn are recited. Holy Communion is administered using a ritual similar to that of the last section of Mass, commencing with the Lord's Prayer but missing the ceremony of "Breaking of the Bread" and its associated acclamation, the Agnus Dei. This ceremony distributes the Eucharist, which was consecrated during the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday. Before Pope Pius XII's Holy Week changes in 1955, only the priest received Communion within the context of what was known as the Mass of the Presanctified, which contained the regular Offertory prayers, as well as the putting of wine in the cup, but excluded the Canon of the Mass. The priest and the congregation then leave quietly, and the altar covering is removed, leaving the altar empty save for the crucifix and two or four candelabra.

What Is Easter Monday?

Easter Monday is the day after Easter, i.e. Easter Sunday, which falls on the Sunday following Good Friday. On this day, Easter Sunday, it is believed that Jesus Christ was resurrected, which means that he returned to earth or became alive again. Easter Monday represents the triumph of life over death. Easter Monday is marked by the distribution of easter eggs. According to tradition, when individuals fasted during Lent, they were unable to consume eggs, therefore the eggs were boiled and kept and then given as presents to friends, family, and others on Easter.

The Easter egg is said to be a symbol of Jesus Christ's resurrection, with the eggshell fracture representing the resurrection.

Religious Rituals

This day is known as "Bright Monday" or "Renewal Monday" in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Byzantine Rite Catholic Churches. The services, like the rest of Bright Week, are quite different from the rest of the year and are similar to the services on Pascha (Easter Sunday) and include an outdoor procession after the Divine Liturgy; while this is prescribed for all days of that week, it is often only celebrated on Monday and perhaps a couple of other days in parish churches, particularly in non-Orthodox countries. Also, if the calendar date of a significant saint's feast day, such as St. George or the patron saint of a church or one's name day, comes within Holy Week or even on Easter Sunday, the saint's day is commemorated on Easter Monday.

National Observances

Australia

Easter Monday is a public holiday in Australia. Some individuals appreciate outdoor sports events like the Oakbank Easter Racing Carnival in South Australia and the Stawell Gift in Victoria, as well as a typical AFL match at the MCG between the Geelong Cats and the Hawthorn Hawks. The NRL has conducted the Easter Monday match (NRL) between the Parramatta Eels and Wests Tigers at Stadium Australia since 2014. Tasmania will host the Australian Three Peaks Race until 2011.

Canada

Easter Monday (French: Le Lundi de Pâques) is the Monday after Easter Sunday and is a federal employee statutory vacation. Although not required by federal law, several companies provide this day off to employees as a matter of customary practice. Furthermore, this holiday follows Good Friday (the Friday before Easter), which is a statutory break for all employees, providing those employees with an extra-long weekend in March or April. In Quebec, companies are required to offer their employees either Good Friday or Easter Monday off. Easter Weekend is the first provincial holiday after New Year's Day in provinces that do not commemorate Family Day, Islander Day, or Louis Riel Day.

Germany

People in Germany go out into the fields early in the morning to race Easter eggs. Easter Monday is also a Holy Day of Obligation in Germany for Roman Catholics.

Ireland

It is a day of the memorial in the Republic of Ireland for the men and women who perished in the Easter Rising, which began on Easter Monday 1916. Until 1966, there was a procession of veterans through the Irish Republican Army headquarters at the General Post Office (GPO) on O'Connell Street, followed by a reading of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic.

Italy

Easter Monday is a public holiday in Italy and is known as "Pasquetta." It is traditional to plan a family picnic in the countryside or barbecues with friends.

Main Differences Between Good Friday and Easter Monday in Points

  • Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross. Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday when it is believed that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead.
  • Good Friday represents Jesus Christ's sorrow and pain, as well as the sacrifice he made for humanity. Easter Monday represents the possibility of life beyond death, as well as the triumph of good over evil or life over death.
  • Good Friday is a day of grief and anguish. Easter Monday is a day of celebration.
  • Good Friday is a fasting day. Easter Monday is not a fasting day.
  • Most countries observe Good Friday as a holiday. Some nations may not observe Easter Monday as a holiday.
  • Good Friday is a day of humility, honoring Jesus Christ and religious customs. Easter Monday is a day of celebration to commemorate Jesus Christ's return (resurrection).

Conclusion

Good Friday and Easter each have their own set of meanings. Both of these events are related to Jesus Christ, but in separate stages that represent death and then victory over death. Traditions and conventions dictate how Good Friday and Easter Monday are observed.

Good Friday and Easter Monday are honored by a variety of religious or serious church services, processions, and other festivities and remembrances. In a nutshell, Good Friday commemorates Jesus Christ's generosity and suffering. Easter Monday is a day for festivals and celebrations, thus it may be thought of as a day to start something new, forgetting about the past while learning from it and making a fresh start in life.

References

  • Good Friday - Wikipedia
  • Easter Monday - Wikipedia

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"Difference Between Good Friday and Easter Monday." Diffzy.com, 2024. Tue. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.diffzy.com/article/difference-between-good-friday-and-easter-monday-1144>.



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