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Hawaii State Holidays
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 This is an old Christian celebration commemorating the Crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is observed on the Friday before Easter Sunday. From earliest times this has been a day of mourning. As early as the 2nd century, there are references to fasting, abstinence, and penance on this day by Christians. A feature in Roman Catholic churches is the Liturgy of the Passion; there is no Consecration, the Host having been consecrated the previous day. In the rite of the Roman Catholic Church, the liturgical service for Good Friday has been in approximately the same form for centuries, the notable difference since 1955 being the communion of the people. The liturgy, now celebrated after 3:00 p.m., consists of three distinct parts: readings and prayers, the veneration of the cross, and the communion. In the Eastern Orthodox churches, where good Friday is known as Great Friday, the Matins service includes the reading of the Twelve Passion Gospel Readings, taken from the various Passion accounts in the New Testatment. In the Anglican churches the Book of Common Prayer provides for a celebration of the Eucharist on Good Friday. The chief service of the day is often the Three Hours Devotion, a series of sermons, hymns, and prayers centered on the cross. In Lutheran and other Protestant churches various services are held, including the Three Hours Devotion and services with Holy Communion. In many areas union services take place among various denominations as an exapression of Christian unity. |
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