Q 01/05

Good Friday commemorates which event in the life of Jesus?

A) His death on the cross

B) His rising from the tomb

C) His entry to Jerusalem

D) His baptism by John

Answer · why

A) His death on the cross

It falls two days before Easter Sunday, at the heart of Holy Week.

Q 02/05

Where does the 'Good' in Good Friday come from?

A) A translation of Latin 'bona'

B) A corruption of 'God's Friday'

C) The news of the resurrection

D) An obsolete sense meaning 'holy'

Answer · why

D) An obsolete sense meaning 'holy'

The same obsolete sense survives in 'the good book' for the Bible and 'good tide' for Christmas.

Q 03/05

In Old English the day was called 'Long Friday'; what did the name refer to?

A) The long wait until Easter

B) The long walk to Calvary

C) The longest day of the church year

D) The lengthy fasting and services

Answer · why

D) The lengthy fasting and services

Equivalents of the name are still used in Scandinavian languages, such as Danish Langfredag.

Q 04/05

The German name for the day, Karfreitag, uses an Old High German word 'kara' meaning what?

A) Sorrow

B) Silence

C) Cross

D) Fasting

Answer · why

A) Sorrow

Germany treats it as a 'silent holiday', with laws in many states banning public dancing and even loud lawnmowers.

Q 05/05

The 'Maundy' of Maundy Thursday comes from the Latin 'mandatum', meaning what?

A) Commandment

B) Supper

C) Washing

D) Betrayal

Answer · why

A) Commandment

It refers to Jesus's 'new commandment' at the Last Supper, re-enacted in the washing of feet.