Good Friday in Switzerland in 2024


  How long until Good Friday?
Good Friday
  Dates of Good Friday in Switzerland
2025 Apr 18
AargauFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
Appenzell AusserrhodenFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
Appenzell InnerrhodenFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
Basel-LandschaftFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
Basel-StadtFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
BernFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
FribourgFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
GenevaFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
GlarusFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
GraubündenFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
JuraFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
LucerneFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
NeuchâtelFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
NidwaldenFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
ObwaldenFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
SchaffhausenFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
SchwyzFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
SolothurnFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
St. GallenFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
ThurgauFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
UriFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
VaudFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
ZugFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
ZurichFri, Apr 18Regional Holiday
2024 Mar 29
AargauFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
Appenzell AusserrhodenFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
Appenzell InnerrhodenFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
Basel-LandschaftFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
Basel-StadtFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
BernFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
FribourgFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
GenevaFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
GlarusFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
GraubündenFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
JuraFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
LucerneFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
NeuchâtelFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
NidwaldenFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
ObwaldenFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
SchaffhausenFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
SchwyzFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
SolothurnFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
St. GallenFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
ThurgauFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
UriFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
VaudFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
ZugFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
ZurichFri, Mar 29Regional Holiday
2023 Apr 7
AargauFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
Appenzell AusserrhodenFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
Appenzell InnerrhodenFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
Basel-LandschaftFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
Basel-StadtFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
BernFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
FribourgFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
GenevaFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
GlarusFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
GraubündenFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
JuraFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
LucerneFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
NeuchâtelFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
NidwaldenFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
ObwaldenFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
SchaffhausenFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
SchwyzFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
SolothurnFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
St. GallenFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
ThurgauFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
UriFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
VaudFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
ZugFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
ZurichFri, Apr 7Regional Holiday
2022 Apr 15
AargauFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
Appenzell AusserrhodenFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
Appenzell InnerrhodenFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
Basel-LandschaftFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
Basel-StadtFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
BernFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
FribourgFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
GenevaFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
GlarusFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
GraubündenFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
JuraFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
LucerneFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
NeuchâtelFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
NidwaldenFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
ObwaldenFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
SchaffhausenFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
SchwyzFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
SolothurnFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
St. GallenFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
ThurgauFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
UriFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
VaudFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
ZugFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
ZurichFri, Apr 15Regional Holiday
2021 Switzerland Fri, Apr 2 National Holiday
  Summary

Good Friday occurs on the Friday before Easter. The day commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus.

  Good Friday in other countries
Good Friday internationally
  Which regions observe Good Friday in 2024?
National Holiday Regional Holiday Not a public holiday Govt Holiday

When is Good Friday?

Many countries observe Good Friday as a national holiday on the Friday before Easter. The day commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.

Some countries observe the Orthodox calendar in which Good Friday may occur on a different date.

What is Good Friday?

The most important events in Christianity are the death and later resurrection of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God, and whose life and teachings are the foundation of Christianity.

After the last supper, Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, put on trial, sentenced to death. He was then tied and nailed by the wrists and feet to a large wooden cross and left to die. This is why the cross is used as a symbol of the Christian faith.

Good Friday is a day of mourning. During special Good Friday services Christians meditate on Jesus's suffering and death on the cross, and what this means for their faith.

Why is it called 'Good Friday'?

At first glance, it seems a strange name for a day that marked such a terrible event as a crucifixion, but when we look at the origin of the name it becomes clearer... or it would if there was one origin that people could agree on. As it stands, you can take your pick from the following:

  • Some say it comes from the use of "Good" as an adjective applied to the day, which is an Old English synonym for "holy."
  • Others believe it stems from a corruption of the word "God," in much the same way that "Good Bye" comes from the phrase "God be with ye." So the name may be derived from 'God's Friday'.
  • Undoubtedly most Christians perceive the day as "good" because the message of Easter is of Christ's victory over sin, death, and the devil. Indeed, the New Testament is also known as the Gospel, which is Greek for 'Good News'.

Also, it also worth noting that this confusion over the name is mainly confined to Western European and North American Christians. Eastern Orthodox Christians call it "Great and Holy Friday. Around the rest of the world, it's known as Holy Friday in most Latin nations, 'Great Friday' by the Slavic peoples, "Friday of Mourning" in Germany and "Long Friday" in Norway.

Good Friday Traditions

Many Church services are held in the afternoon, usually between noon to 3pm, to remember the hours when Jesus was crucified on the cross.

Some churches observe the day by re-enacting the process of the cross in the rituals of stations of the cross, which depicts the final hours of Jesus' life. Other churches may participate in Veneration of the Cross, a short ceremony in which Christians kneel before the cross and affirm their faith.

In Jerusalem, Christians follow in Jesus' footsteps and walk Via Dolorosa, the traditional path that led to the site of the crucifixion. Many who participate try to ritually bear the same weight Jesus did by carrying crosses on their backs.

Though it's not a public holiday in the Vatican or Italy, the Pope will say a mass at the Vatican before leads an annual public prayer of the Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum in Rome. A procession is then made to the Palatine Hill, accompanied by a huge cross covered in burning torches. 

Alfombras in Central America

In some Central American countries, including Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, the streets are decorated with vividly hued designs along the route of Good Friday processions. The tradition of creating these “alfombras,” Spanish for carpet or rug, originated in Spain’s Andalusia region. The practice crossed the pond with missionaries more than 400 years ago. The patterns often depict religious or natural images, created from brightly coloured sawdust. Alfombras are not meant to endure. The patterns disappear beneath the feet of the marchers and spectators.

Hot Cross Buns

A traditional Good Friday treat in the UK, Canada and Australia. Only available at this time of year, these sweet buns are made from a yeast dough augmented with raisins, currants and sometimes a little citron. They’re decorated with a cross made of light frosting, two strips of plain dough, or just a knife imprint. The hot cross buns tradition is savoured by cultures around the world, going back to at least the 16th century when Queen Elizabeth I is said to have forbidden their sale except on Good Friday, Christmas or for burials. The last two occasions have fallen by the wayside: Once Good Friday is over, you’re unlikely to see the treats until next year.


Did you know?

Three facts about Good Friday

In 19th-century France, it was a symbol of free thinking to hold a sausage-eating party on Good Friday

In the United States, 12 of the 50 states recognize Good Friday as a holiday

No one actually knows for sure from where the name "Good Friday" came from. There are many theories on the same. Many believe that the "Good" means "Holy", while others think that "Good" is used in replace of "God."

More facts about Good Friday

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