Postkiwi Duncan Macleod

John Evans, a fellow Uniting Church minister, based at Church of All Nations in Carlton, Melbourne, has hit the news with his suggestion that Australia rethinks Good Friday.

John’s arguing that in a more multicultural, multifaith society, designating the Christian festival of Good Friday as a public holiday is becoming less and less appropriate. Outside the Christian community there is little religious significance for most Australians. “Whether Good Friday is a public holiday or not will not change or challenge the day’s significance. In fact, in the place of Good Friday, there should be a national holiday to mark our endeavours towards Aboriginal reconciliation”, John is quoted as saying.

How to respond?

I’ve heard people saying that the arrival of people with different religious beliefs shouldn’t lead to the abandonment of Christian practices and observances. But, of course, it’s too late for that. The arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus just doesn’t figure for most people. And aligning lives with the life of Jesus less so.

Many Christians, Protestant and Catholic, gather for Good Friday services in which they reflect on the suffering of the Christ. People from the Orthodox wing of Christianity, however, are usually observing Easter at some other time, this year on April 25 to 27. Fortunately for these people in Australia and New Zealand Good Friday for them will coincide with ANZAC Day this year.

Without Good Friday as a public holiday people would go to work as usual. Those who wished to take part in religious observances would have the choice of gathering before work, at lunch time, after work. Or taking the afternoon off to attend a service at 3 pm. Not a big deal. Easter camps for young people would be shorter however, starting on Friday nights.

Elsewhere in the world

Good Friday is a public holiday in Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Peru, the countries of the Caribbean, Germany, Malta, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Ireland observes the day as bank holiday and bans the sale of alcohol. Indonesia and Malaysia, majority Muslim countries, observe the day as a national holiday.

John Evans points out that Good Friday is not a national holiday in the United States. The day is given as a holiday in some states, including Connecticut, Hawaii, Louisiana, Tennessee. Some schools and universities observe the day as a Spring holiday.

Bottom Line

Easter, although associated with a Christian tradition, is a key part of the Australian culture. Most Australians, regardless of beliefs or ethnic backgrounds, enjoy having an extra long weekend, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday observed on Monday. People get to travel, see family and just have a relaxing time. Judging by the number of people at the bottle store on Thursday, it’s also a traditional time for communal consumption of food and alcohol. The long weekend is a chance for the practice of ’sabbath’ - recognising that we need to stop our obsession with making and spending money.

Now the discussion of a day of reconciliation is another question, worthy of a discussion in itself.

What do you think about all this?

Read the original press release at media room of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania