Good Friday in Italy

In Italy, Good Friday is a religious observance that occurs in the lead-up to Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. It commemorates Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and death, as written in the Christian bible.

Good Friday is a solemn observance two days before Easter Sunday.

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What do people do?

Good Friday is also known as Holy Friday (Venerdì Santo) in Italy. Some Italians eat only fish as part of a fasting ritual on Good Friday. Statues in many Italian churches are cloaked in black or purple covers. Large processions, where people carry religious symbols such as crosses, take place in areas such as the Chieti province in Abruzzo.

Public life

Good Friday is not a national public holiday in Italy, but roads may be congested later in the day as people start to prepare for the long Easter weekend.

Background

Some historians believe that the Good Friday procession in Chieti has origins that can be traced back to around 842 CE. In fact, Good Friday is known to be one of the oldest Christian holidays observed worldwide. It was a day of fasting during the early years, which was associated with the crucifixion later in history.

Symbols

Some churches in Italy observe Good Friday by a feet-washing ritual in which a priest washes the feet of 12 church members, symbolizing Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.

About Good Friday in other countries

Good Friday Observances

Related holidays

• Easter Monday ―Monday, April 1, 2013
• Easter Day ―Sunday, March 31, 2013

Other holidays in March 2013 in Italy

• Easter Day ―Sunday, March 31, 2013