Good Friday 2027 — How Many Days Until Good Friday?

About Good Friday

Good Friday is a Christian observance marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, held on the Friday before Easter Sunday. It is the most solemn day in the Christian calendar — a day of mourning, reflection, and fasting that commemorates the death of Jesus at Golgotha, as recorded in all four Gospels.

The name "Good Friday" is believed to come from "God's Friday," following a linguistic pattern seen in "Goodbye" (a contraction of "God be with you"). Despite its sombre character, the day is called "Good" because Christian theology holds that Christ's death was ultimately an act of redemptive love — "good" in the sense of holy or sacred.

Good Friday services typically include the reading of the Passion narrative, veneration of the cross, and communal prayer. Many churches hold services from noon to 3 PM — the hours Jesus is believed to have hung on the cross. In the Philippines, some devout Catholics engage in self-flagellation or reenact the crucifixion. In the UK, hot cross buns — spiced buns marked with a cross — are a traditional Good Friday food.

Good Friday falls two days before Easter Sunday — its date changes each year
It is a public holiday in over 100 countries including the UK, Australia, Canada, and most of Europe
The US does not observe Good Friday as a federal holiday, but 12 states do
Hot cross buns have been a Good Friday tradition in England since at least the 12th century
Some stock markets and banks close on Good Friday even when it is not a statutory holiday

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Good Friday?

Good Friday falls two days before Easter Sunday. Because Easter is a moveable feast, Good Friday's date changes each year — it can fall anywhere between 20 March and 23 April.

Is Good Friday a public holiday?

Yes, in many countries — including the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, and most of the Caribbean. It is not a federal public holiday in the United States, though some states observe it.

Why is it called Good Friday if it marks a death?

The "good" in Good Friday is thought to derive from an older sense of the word meaning "holy" or "pious," similar to "Good Book" for the Bible. It may also derive from "God's Friday."