Traditions associated with Good Friday

Traditions associated with Good Friday

There are a number of interesting traditions associated with Good Friday. These are as follows:

HOT CROSS BUNS:

The traditional food for Good Friday is the Hot Cross bun, which originally were spicy fruit buns marked with a Cross on the top. They were served hot from the oven.  The origin of hot cross buns is associated with the day of fasting and abstinence decreed by the Church.  (see Fasting and abstinence posts in this series for full details) Hot cross buns were simple yet were filling enough for the two snack meals required on this day.

In some churches, hot cross buns are distributed after the liturgy and the funds raised are given to charity.

BLACKSMITH TRADITION:

Because of the action of the soldiers in nailing Christ to the Cross, blacksmiths would not shoe horses on Good Friday, as it entails hammering nails into the horses' hooves.

TRADITION OF THE CROSS:

The cross is traditionally said to have been made of wood from the ash tree, which is why that tree is said to quiver slightly. Ash was commonly used to make spears because of its 'springiness' and straight grain. However the wood of the Cross seems to be an issue for discussion with various results being put forward.

PLANTING

Good Friday is said to be a good day for planting seeds since Christ's blood fell on to the soil and blessed it on that day.

PERSONAL TRADITIONS 

On Good Friday I have some personal traditions which I look forward to as part of my Holy Week ritual. 

1.            Attendance at Morning Prayer with the Dominican community. It takes about an hour but it is always such a precious time for me and each year there always seems to be something fresh about it. Some years are more florid than others depending on the number and ability of the community to sing.  Sometimes, those in the community who do not think they have a singing voice surprise themselves as they make the effort. I wait with enthusiastic expectancy to hear the Lamentations, whether they be sung in Latin or English.I also have the privilege to attend Morning Prayer on Holy Saturday and Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday.

2.            Attend Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday.

3.             Eat Hot Cross buns: For most of my life we came home from Church from the solemn Liturgy of Good Friday. Mum quickly put the oven on and in went the hot cross buns. Mostly the hot cross buns were homemade but occasionally mum used to buy them.

4.            Attend Prayer around the Cross in the spirit of Taize: For the last 9 years I have played the organ/piano for the prayers around the Cross in the Spirit of Taize. Sadly, I will miss this privilege this year.

Good Friday is always a quiet, spiritual day. It is always fills me with great gratitude that Christ died for me.