This Is How Good Friday Is Celebrated Around The World

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

Good Friday is perhaps one of the most symbolic days for Christians within the celebration of Holy Week. During this day, millions of people around the world commemorate the death of Jesus after being crucified.

Although each country has its own traditions for this day, in many cities on the planet the well-known processions in which the Way of the Cross is revived take place. In addition, during the Eucharist on Good Friday you also hear the so-called "Sermon of the seven words", which is based on the last seven phrases that Jesus said before he died.

Take a look at some of the most iconic celebrations taking place around the world on this day.

Of course, the city of Jerusalem is the epicenter of the celebration of Good Friday, because according to the scriptures, it was the place where the son of God was crucified. Thousands of parishioners from around the world travel to the capital of Israel to pay respect to the death of Jesus and to be part of the traditional processions that take place in the city.

Many of the attendees come to participate in the traditional Way of the Cross carrying their own crosses. The procession takes place along the same path that Jesus traveled to Calvary, the place where he is said to have been crucified.

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For Spaniards, Easter celebrations have been of great importance throughout history. In fact, many of the traditions that develop during this time in different regions of the country have been recognized as Intangible Heritage.

Part of the iconic processions that take place to celebrate Good Friday have as protagonists the famous "penitents" or "Nazarenes", who cover their entire body with colored robes.

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Every Good Friday, the city of Rome is paralyzed to give life to one of the most massive processions in the world. Thousands of believers gather to relive the Passion of Christ in a massive walk led by the pope. As it is recounted, the procession begins in the iconic Colosseum and ends at the Palatine Hill, one of the oldest areas of the city.

Chris Ratcliffe

England has had a very strong connection to Christian traditions throughout its history. That is why, in London, an iconic theatrical representation of the “Passion of Christ” is performed and thousands of believers attend to see the traditional play that takes place every year in Trafalgar Square. A gigantic production, involving hundreds of actors, is part of one of the most popular Easter traditions in the United Kingdom.

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Of course, South America also abounds with the traditions and rites of Holy Week and the city of Popayán, Colombia, has some of the most iconic celebrations in this part of the world. The entire city is paralyzed to participate in the massive processions, which since 2009 have been recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

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The city of León, Nicaragua, has become an icon in the celebrations of Holy Week for Latin America, since during Good Friday its streets are adorned with beautiful and colorful works of art created with sawdust. This is a tradition that is also very popular in other places in Central America.

Jes Aznar

In this Asian country, the representations of the Way of the Cross are also other of the most commemorated traditions during Holy Week. But unlike other places, people who are chosen to incarnate Jesus are actually flogged and crucified. Without a doubt, a tradition that has sparked more than a controversy.