Good Friday and Holy Saturday are the quietest and most solemn days of Holy Week. Christians remember the death of Jesus on the cross and the time he lay in the tomb. These days invite reflection on suffering, death, hope and the promise of Easter.
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. According to the Gospels, Jesus was sentenced to death and crucified at Golgotha, outside Jerusalem.
For Christians, the cross is central to the message of salvation. Jesus’ death reveals the depth of God’s love for humanity and the promise of forgiveness and reconciliation with God. Good Friday is a day of grief and reflection, but it is also part of the story that leads to Easter.
In the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Good Friday is marked by simple and solemn worship. Holy Communion is not celebrated in the traditional Good Friday service. Instead, the service focuses on the Bible readings, prayer and the story of Jesus’ suffering and death.
Churches often use black, the colour of mourning, in their liturgical decorations. The altar may be left bare, and church bells and organs traditionally remain silent. These customs create a quiet atmosphere that reflects the solemnity of the day.
Good Friday invites people to pause and reflect on suffering, injustice, death and the hope that Christians find in Christ.
Holy Saturday is the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Christians remember that Jesus lay in the tomb. It is a day of silence and waiting, when the joy of Easter has not yet arrived.
In the Christian story, Holy Saturday marks a moment of uncertainty and grief. Jesus’ followers have witnessed his death, and they do not yet know what will happen next. The day offers space to reflect on loss, waiting and hope in times when the future is unclear.
In Finland, Holy Saturday has its own distinctive folk traditions. In western Finland, people traditionally lit Easter bonfires to ward off evil spirits. According to folk beliefs, witches and other supernatural beings were especially active around Easter.
Today, Easter bonfires are still lit in some places, particularly in western Finland. The tradition is part of Finland’s rich Easter folklore, alongside the religious observances of Holy Week.
Holy Saturday leads into Easter Sunday, when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the victory of life over death.