Today was Good Friday for Christians, the day on which Jesus Christ was crucified and died. What’s so good about it then?
One theory is that it comes from God’s Friday, but that seems quite unlikely, especially considering the fact that there’s no real link between the words good and god.
Rather, the most likely explanation is that it comes from a now obsolete use of good to mean holy. This is probably the case, considering the fact that most other days in the week before Easter (Holy Week) are prefaced by Holy.
Still, it’s a little unusual that we use Good for Good Friday and not the other days, considering that it should be the most depressing day of the year for Christians.
I think using Good was a way for Christians to emphasise the overall positive effect of the day. They believe that when Jesus died on the cross, all of humanity’s sins were forgiven.
Perhaps the retention of Good is also due to the ironic and perhaps poetic contrast between the tragedy of the day and the positivity of the word.
People use to observe Good Friday by fasting, but now it’s usually not such a special day. Still, hopefully it was a good Friday for you!
English-Language Thoughts 
Well, would you want to go to church on Bad Friday?
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I usually get at least one question about this from my students every year – now I’ll point them to your blog!
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Thanks, hope it helps 😊.
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I thought that it has to do with the old usage of good as well. That’s what I say every time someone asks me about this.
Also, I feel that the theory of God’s Friday becomiing Good Friday is rather dubious. I think that I first heard that from the radio several years ago.
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