Celebrating Good Friday amidst COVID-19 Pandemic does not water down the fact that everything that concerns religion and other activities is on hold as a result of the lockdown and social distancing measures that are put in place to curtail the further spread of Coronavirus in Nigeria.
The lockdown affects Sunday services, Jumat and other religious activities to discourage large gathering of people.
For instance, Some Muslim faithful have resulted in observing Jumat in their different homes. At the same time, their Christian counterparts also pray and worship God in their respective homes.
Good Friday
Among the Christian faithful, the month of April is significant because it is a month set aside to mark the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The month of March which preceded April is such that many Christians regarded as the period of fasting, while they remember the death of Jesus Christ with activities like the Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Monday.
Though some state Government have announced a relax in the lockdown order in their different states. Still, the lockdown order in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun state remains as President Muhammadu Buhari announced it.
Despite the lockdown and probably lowkey Easter celebration in some states and countries around the world due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, there are things you need to know about good Friday.
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary even though, the historical origins of the “Good” in Good Friday remain unclear.
The holiday is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday and Black Friday.
Also, the day before Good Friday is known as Maundy Thursday. The term “Maundy” is derived from the Latin word mandatum (commandment).
The term refers to the commandment given by Jesus at the Last Supper: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” (John 13:34.
In Medieval Europe, Christians would abstain from eating eggs and meat during Lent. Eggs laid during that time were often boiled to preserve them and were given as Easter gifts to children and servants.
Some traditions claim the Easter egg is symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus, with the shell of the egg representing the sealed tomb and cracking the shell representing the resurrection.
Christians in the Middle East and Greece painted eggs bright red to symbolize the blood of Christ while most believers agreed that the most important historical events in Jesus’s life, such as the crucifixion, are firmly anchored in human history.
Easter should be another period to reflect on the importance of Sacrifice, Selflessness and love for humanity given the effects of the current lockdown on some households.
