Good Friday and Easter 2025: Dates, History, and Why They Change Every Year

Good Friday is the most holy and mournful Christian holiday, which gives introspection about the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It commemorates the day of crucifixion, a huge day in history, marking redemption and hope for mankind. This holy day is not a day of lamentation, but more importantly, a day of Thanksgiving and awe, where believers gather together to pay tribute to the magnitude of God’s love expressed through Christ’s passion for the cross.

Good Friday and Easter Sunday 2025 dates

  • Good Friday 2025: April 18
  • Easter, Sunday 2025: April 20, 2025

Why is Good Friday also called Holy Friday or Black Friday?

Good Friday is called Holy Friday or Black Friday because it is a sacred and solemn occasion in the Christian faith. The term “Holy Friday” indicates that Christians mark the holiness of the day Jesus Christ was crucified. It captures the sacred and religious significance of Jesus’ sacrifice, which is the focus of redemption and redemption in the Christian faith.

The term “Black Friday” emphasizes the seriousness and melancholy of Good Friday. It represents the pain of Jesus on the cross and the darkness and sorrow surrounding his death. For example, in German-speaking countries, Good Friday is called karfreitag or “Friday Mourning,” which also reflects the solemnity of the day.

Good Friday and Easter Sunday 2025 dates

  • Good Friday 2025: April 18
  • Easter Sunday 2025: April 20

History and significance

Good Friday

Good Friday honors Jesus Christ’s crucification. It was a solemn day marked by church service, fasting and reflection. The importance of Good Friday lies in the sacrifice of Jesus, which is seen as a payment for human sin and provides hope for reconciliation with God.

Easter

Easter Sunday usually falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Easter Sunday or Sunday resurrection to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a major Christian holiday that represents hope, renewal and victory over evil. The resurrection is evidence that Jesus is divine, his prediction.

Why does Easter date change every year?

Easter has no fixed dates because it follows a church calendar based on the moon cycle. The Church decides:

  • The vernal equinox (when day and night are equal) is on March 21.
  • The Paschal full moon occurs on the 14th day of the lunar month (not always a true full moon).
  • Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon in Pascal.

This method changes the date every year.

Why do different Christian groups celebrate Easter on different dates?

Different Christian traditions follow different calendars:

  • Western churches (Roman Catholic and Protestant) use the Gregorian calendar.
  • Orthodox churches (Greek and Russian Orthodox) follow the Julian calendar.

This usually means they celebrate Easter on different days. But in 2025, both traditions will be celebrated on April 20, which is rare!

Calculation of Easter dates

The calculation of Easter dates consists of a complex process called Computus, which synchronizes the lunar cycle with the solar year to calculate the Paschal full moon. This ensures that Easter takes place between the Western Calendar from March 22 to April 25.