ABOUT GOOD FRIDAY - IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
About GOOD FRIDAY: this is the day when Jesus according to the bible was crucified in Jerusalem. Why call it good? Do the English see it as a good event? No, this is not the explanation. The word good often meant holy way back in the Middle Ages. A Christian text from 1290 calls this day Guode Friday. So it makes sense.
It is interesting that the Anglo-Saxon invaders, who came to England in the 6th and 7th century from Jutland and Northern Germany, called the day Long Friday - just as it is called in Danish today ( Langfredag ). If they were Christians, of course.
In German the day is called Karfreitag. Why? Because Kar in old German means grief ( Trauer ) or sad. So this also makes sense.
In French the day is called Vendredi Saint - Holy Friday. Like in Italian Venerdi Santo or Spanish Viernes Santo.
It is interesting how a special day may be called differently in different languages, and it is still the same meaning.
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