Good Friday Explained for Americans: What It Means, What’s Closed, and How It’s Observed

Good Friday is one of the holiest, most solemn days on the Christian calendar that is observed by millions of believers across the globe, including in the United States. But while its meaning is profound within the practice of the faith, many Americans have questions about how it’s observed in the U.S., whether it’s a federal or bank holiday and what sort of events and traditions surround it. This article, Good Friday Explained for Americans, will guide you to make your plans accordingly.

Whether you’re seeking Good Friday morning blessings, Googling “Good Friday services near me” or asking yourself, “Is Good Friday a federal holiday?”, then this blog will cover all you need to know.

🕊️ What Is Good Friday?

Good Friday remembers the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week on the Friday before Easter Sunday and is often commemorated through fasting, reflection, and prayer.

It may appear odd to call it “Good,” but the term describes the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus whose death is viewed by Christians as “good,” due to the salvation it created.

📅 Good Friday Date 2025 (U.S.)

Good Friday is on April 18 in 2025. It takes place every year on the Friday before Easter, which is a different date each year according to the lunar calendar.

🇺🇸 Is 2023 Good Friday a Federal Holiday in the U.S.?

Many people ask:

“Is Good Friday a federal holiday?

”Is Good Friday a national holiday in the U.S.?”

The short answer: No, Good Friday is not a federal holiday in the United States. Overall, that means most federal offices, post offices and public schools are open — unless state-specific rules take precedence.

But some states — including Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Tennessee and Texas — observe Good Friday as a state holiday.

🏦 Are Good Friday Bank Hours Closed?

And one of the most searched Google terms every year is:

“Good Friday — Are banks closed?”

“Is it a bank holiday on Good Friday?”

 “Good Friday — What’s closed?”

Most banks in the United States are open on Good Friday, because it is not considered a bank holiday by federal law. However, banks in some states, where Good Friday is a public holiday, may close.

Local banks or credit unions may have different hours or be closed, so it’s always good to check.

🙏 Good Friday Church Services Near Me

Many Good Friday church services are held in the afternoon to commemorate the approximate time of Jesus’ death — around 3 PM.

If you’re googling “Good Friday services near me,” call nearby churches or consult Google Maps to find Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox churches offering:

• Passion plays
• Stations of the Cross
• Veneration of the Cross
• Silent meditations

Here are some notable Good Friday services across the United States for April 18, 2025:( For updated information visit, Good Friday Explained for Americans again)

🗽 Northeast

• Trinity Church Wall Street – New York, NY
  Liturgy of Good Friday at 12:05 PM
  A historic Episcopal church offering a solemn midday service
• Park Street Church – Boston, MA
  Services at 12:00 PM & 7:30 PM
  Childcare available; evening service streamed online
• First Church in Cambridge – Cambridge, MA
  Hosting traditional Good Friday observances

🌆 Midwest

• Memorial Presbyterian Church – Midland, MI
  Tenebrae Service at 7:00 PM
  A reflective service where lights are gradually extinguished.
• St. Michael the Archangel Church – Cleveland, OH
  Offering a traditional Good Friday service.

🌇 South

• Prestonwood Baptist Church – Plano, TX Multiple services across campuses. A large congregation with extensive Holy Week programmig.
• Church of the Incarnation – Dallas, TX Good Friday service at 5:15 MA. Part of a comprehensive Holy Week schedule.
• St. Leo’s Catholic Church – Baltimore, MD Hosting traditional Good Friday services.

🌄 West

• Moses Lake Alliance Church – Moses Lake, WA Services at 10:00 AM & 5:00 PM Offering worship opportunities for various schedules.
• RiverGate Church – Tulsa, OK Worship & Communion at 7:00 PM. An evening service focusing on reflection and communion.

🌐 Online & Nationwide

• Riverside Church – New York, NY Seven Last Words Service from 12:00 PM to 3:0 PM. A traditional service reflecting on Jesus’ final words.
• Elevation Church – Multiple Locations & Online. Offering Good Friday communion experiences both in-person and online.

For more information or to find additional services, consider checking local church websites or community event listings.

These services are reflective, reverent and deeply spiritual — and open to all, whether you’re a devout Christian or simply want to observe.

🧘 Greetings & Good Friday Morning Blessings

Good Friday morning for many Americans starts with a moment of peace, prayer , and remembrance. People often share: We have crafted some well-thought-out wishes for you on this topic, Good Friday Explained for Americans, for your purposes.

Good Friday morning greetings by text or social media— Greetings for Good Friday like:

• Hope and peace be with you on this Good Friday.
• Happy holy day of reflection and love to you.
• May you find peace and comfort this Good Friday.
• May this Good Friday bring peace to your soul and renew your spirit with hope and grace.
• Wishing you a blessed Good Friday filled with mercy, love, and forgiveness.
• On this holy day, may the sacrifice of Jesus inspire you to live with kindness and compassion.
• May your heart be filled with gratitude and your soul with serenity this Good Friday.
• Let’s remember His sacrifice and strive to follow in His footsteps. Have a meaningful Good Friday.
• Peace, faith, and blessings to you on this sacred day. Happy Good Friday.
• Good Friday reminds us that love and sacrifice go hand in hand. May you feel His presence always.
• May the light of Christ guide you through darkness. Have a blessed and reflective Good Friday.
• Wishing you and your loved ones a Good Friday full of prayer, strength, and serenity.
• His cross was heavy, but His love was heavier. Let us never forget. Blessed Good Friday to you.
• Take a moment to reflect, to give thanks, and to hold on to faith. Happy Good Friday.
• This Good Friday, may your soul be filled with courage, compassion, and peace.
• Today we remember a powerful act of love. May it fill your heart with faith.
• May His sacrifice teach us the true meaning of love and forgiveness. Good Friday blessings to you.
• May this day strengthen your spirit and renew your purpose. Wishing you a peaceful Good Friday.
• Even in sorrow, we find grace. May your Good Friday be a time of peace and reflection.
• On this holy day, may God’s light shine through you. Wishing you a hopeful Good Friday.
• Let us bow our heads in gratitude and rise with faith. Have a meaningful Good Friday.
• He bore our burdens so we could find peace. Sending you prayers on Good Friday.
• May this Good Friday be the beginning of renewed faith, quiet strength, and endless hope.

🖼️ Images & Photos of Good Friday Morning

Visual messages are powerful. If you are searching for beautiful Good Friday Morning images or Good Friday pictures, here are some:

These are common to share on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter to pay tribute to the significance of the day.

🔍 Good Friday in Spanish

In bilingual families or communities, Good Friday is “Viernes Santo” in Spanish. It is widely celebrated in Hispanic communities throughout the U.S. with:

• Bilingual church services
• Reflections and sermons in Spanish
• Expressions of mourning and respect through culture

🕊️ Spanish Good Friday Services in the U.S. (April 18, 2025)

Washington, D.C.

• St. Matthew’s Cathedral
  📍 1725 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, D.C.
  🕓 4:00 PM – Liturgia de la Pasión de N.S. Jesucristo (Spanish)
  Celebrated by Most Rev. Evelio Menjivar. ​St. Matthew’s Cathedral

Houston, TX

• Grace Church
  📍 14505 Gulf Freeway, Houston, TX
  🕔 5:00 PM – Spanish Service
  🕖 7:00 PM – English Service ​Log in or sign up to view+1Catholic Diocese of Little Rock+1globalhighlights.com
• St. Paul’s United Methodist Church
  📍 5501 Main St, Houston, TX
  🕖 7:00 PM – Bilingual (English-Spanish) Tenebrae Service ​St. Paul’s United Methodist Church

Conroe, TX

• First Methodist Conroe
  📍 4308 W Davis St, Conroe, TX
  🕖 7:00 PM – Celebración Good Friday Service (Spanish) ​First Methodist Conroe+1Log in or sign up to view+1

Miami, FL

• Unity Center of Miami
  📍 16320 SW 147th Ave, Miami, FL
  🕒 3:00 PM – Viernes Santo Spanish Ministry Service (Online via Facebook Live) ​Log in or sign up to view

Warren, AR

• St. Luke Church
  📍 101 S Bradley St, Warren, AR
  🕚 11:00 AM – Live Stations of the Cross (Spanish) ​Catholic Diocese of Little Rock

Ann Arbor, MI

• Crossroads Community Baptist Church
  📍 2580 Packard St, Ann Arbor, MI
  🕛 12:00 PM – Spanish Language Service ​Log in or sign up to view

Vancouver, WA

• Mannahouse Church – Mill Plain Campus
  📍 14311 SE Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA
  🕖 7:00 PM – Combined Spanish Service for the Portland Metro Area ​Mannahouse – A Church for the Journey

Stirling, NJ

• Shrine of Saint Joseph
  📍 1050 Long Hill Rd, Stirling, NJ
  🕖 7:00 PM – Veneration of the Cross (Spanish) ​St. Mary Church+2Shrine of Saint Joseph+2Catholic Diocese of Little Rock+2

Greenville, SC

• St. Mary Catholic Church
  📍 111 Hampton Ave, Greenville, SC
  🕕 6:00 PM – Passion of the Lord (Spanish) ​St. Mary Church

For more details or to confirm service times, please visit the respective church websites or visit this article again, Good Friday Explained for Americans, to get updated information.

🥗 If You Can Eat Meat on Good Friday

One common tradition — particularly among Catholics — is to abstain from eating meat on Good Friday. It’s a kind of fasting and sacrifice, and it’s a way of honoring Christ’s suffering. Instead, many enjoy:

• Fish dishes
• Soups and salads
• Plant-based meals

So yes — Good Friday = No Meat, especially for practicing Catholics.

🕯️ Good Friday Sermons & Reflections

Typical Good Friday sermons are about:

• The Passion of Christ
• The meaning of the Cross– The motifs of sacrifice, redemption, and salvation

Churches may also provide livestreams or recorded services to help you reflect from home if necessary. The Links will be updated in this article, Good Friday Explained for Americans.

📚 What You Need to Know About Good Friday History

The observation of Good Friday was first established in the 4th century and early Christians started to observe a commemoration of Christ’s crucifixion as part of Holy Week.

Though the day is commemorated worldwide, the U.S. brings its own cultural and spiritual interpretations — often mixing liturgical tradition with personal self-reflection and volunteering.

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💬 On Good Friday: Why It Matters in America

Even in a diverse, fast-paced country like the U.S., Good Friday is an essential day of remembrance. Whether you observe a church service in silence, fast in solitude, or offer Good Friday greetings to friends and family, it is an opportunity to reconnect with your principles, your faith, and the essence of sacrifice and renewal.

So on this date of April 18, 2025, take some time to breathe, meditate and enjoy what Good Friday means in the stillness and in the meaning.

📌 The Good Friday morning images, prayers, and service info will be updated on this article, Good Friday Explained for Americans, as the date gets closer, and don’t forget to share this post.