Good Friday, also called Holy Friday or Black Friday, commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. The liturgy, known as the ‘Mass of the Pre-Sanctified,’ has undergone significant changes since the 1955 liturgical reforms.
The priest would prostrate himself before the altar, where a cloth is spread and the missal is placed. It begins with a bare altar, and after the Passion reading, the priest vests in a cope, indicating no Mass is being celebrated. The cross is unveiled in three stages, and the faithful venerated it by genuflecting three times and kneeling in adoration before it was restored to the altar. The veiled cross is held by priests for veneration, and the ceremony concludes in silence, with the ciborium repositioned in the main tabernacle and new prayers chanted.
Fasting and abstinence
A key aspect of the observance is the tradition of fasting and abstinence. Families prepare a modest meal of rice gruel, known as ‘kanji’ or ‘péz’ in Konkani, accompanied by pickle or salted fish. This simple meal reflects the themes of sacrifice and self-denial central to Good Friday. The humble food serves as a reminder of Christ's suffering and the need for spiritual discipline.
This combination of religious observance and local culinary tradition helps to reinforce the solemnity of the day, creating a unique way of honoring the significance of Good Friday within the Goan community. It is a time for both spiritual reflection and cultural expression, offering a blend of faith, tradition, and simplicity that resonates deeply with those who observe it.
Veiling the images of Christ
The whole meaning behind veiling the images of Christ is that, during Lent, Christ was absent from society and isolated on the Mount of Olives. Hence, He was not visible in public. But if that is the case, why are the saints also covered with a veil? This is because all saints are ultimately followers of Christ. So, if Christ isn’t present, how can the saints be? It is also a beautiful tradition to pass down to our children, who will be intrigued by it, making this time of year truly special for them. We go to great lengths to decorate our homes for Easter, so why not prepare for the great feast by using veils?
Interestingly, at the Andrade house in Ambajim, Margão, the practice of veiling their private oratory with a black veil began around 1730. It continued until around the 1960s, when the veil caught fire due to the candles lit nearby. The practice was only reinstated in 2013. The custom of veiling images during the last two weeks of Lent dates back to the Middle Ages. Traditionally, the veils are made of lightweight purple cloth without any decoration.
Liturgical reverence
and Goan customs on Good Friday
Good Friday holds deep significance in Goa, blending liturgical reverence with unique local customs. Agnelo Andrade from Ambajim recalls the solemn atmosphere of the day, where the usual distractions of music and television are set aside, fostering an environment of reflection on Christ’s suffering. The focus is on simplicity and quiet devotion.
Showers of blessing
Antoneta Carvalho e Fernandes of Benaulim fondly recalls the fun that followed this intense day: during the Easter Vigil, boys would throw pieces of Pandanus (Ketok) leaves from choir lofts at parishioners—especially girls—walking to the communion rail, marking a shift from solemnity to celebration.
A unique Crucifixion
Among the more unusual Good Friday traditions in Goa is the crucifixion of garden lizards—called Thopio or Sheddo—by village boys. Using the thorny branches of lemon trees or Flacourtia jangomas, these lizards were nailed onto coconut trees or palm fronds. The origin of this ritual varies across villages.
In Ambajim, Margão, elders claim the lizard played a role in Jesus' betrayal by Judas, and its crucifixion symbolizes punishment. Another tale suggests the lizard mocked Christ at the moment of his crucifixion. Some interpretations even point to pre-Christian beliefs where lizards falling on someone were seen as a bad omen, and the act of crucifying them became a symbolic cleansing merged with Christian catechism.
In cases where boys accidentally caught a poisonous lizard (Sorop shilli) and were bitten, they were immediately immersed in a pond, with water up to their neck, to slow the toxin’s spread until medical help arrived.