- In African countries where Christians are the majority is celebrated with national holidays, church attendance, and parties among others.
- Good Friday is marked as the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary.
Christians just like other religions across the world have special days to observe in their calendar every year.
Easter is one such holiday in the Gregorian calendar where the faithful take part in a variety of activities to commemorate their day.
It begins on Palm Sunday which marks the entry of Jesus to Jerusalem.
The entire week is referred to by the Easter-observing Christians as the Holy week which ends with a commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
It is described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD.
Good Friday is marked by the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum.
It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday, and Black Friday.
But, did you know some countries do not recognize this day?
Apart from Christianity, there is Islam religion, Buddhism, Hinduism, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism, among others.
Most of these nations that do not observe Easter are those dominated by Muslims.
They prohibit the propagation of any other religion than Islam.
Here are some of the countries.
1-Somalia
The provisional federal constitution (PFC) provides for the right of individuals to practice their religion, makes Islam the state religion, prohibits the propagation of any religion other than Islam, and stipulates all laws must comply with the general principles of sharia.
2-Mauritania
The constitution defines the country as an Islamic republic and designates Islam as the sole religion of the citizenry and state.
The law prohibits blasphemy and apostasy and defines them as crimes punishable by death; however, the government has never applied the death penalty for these crimes.
3-Algeria
Freedom of religion in Algeria is regulated by the Algerian Constitution, which declares Islam to be the state religion.
Majority of the population (99 percent) are Sunni Muslim.
4-Libya
The 2011 Constitutional Declaration functions states that Islam is the state religion and sharia is the principal source of legislation.
It, however, accords Christians and Jews the freedom to practice their religions and guarantees state respect for their personal status laws.
About 96 percent of the population are Sunni Muslims.
5-China
Most people here preach Buddhism. The few Christians (one per cent) celebrate it in their homes or churches, even though there are no holidays. Taoism, shamanism, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Dongba religion, Protestantism and Islam is also practised in the country.
6-Uzbekistan
In this Asian country, 93 per cent of the population professes Islam and is known to have one of the oldest customs in the world.
Sunni Islam is the dominant religion here, such that anyone who practices a different religion is banned.
A 2018 BBC report revealed that the most populous country in Central Asia was looking to become a second Mecca in the face of a large number of mosques and shrines, both sacred places.
7-Kazakhstan
There is a prohibition on holding any Christian activity in this country.
The main religious group is Muslim accounting for 70 per cent of the population with the Orthodox Christian at 23 per cent while the remaining 7 per cent is divided among small communities of Jews, Buddhists, Catholics, and Jehovah's Witnesses.
8-South Korea
Here, it is different because Christmas and Western New Year are celebrated, but Holy Week has never been celebrated at the level of the entire population.
9-Japan
The majority religion is Shinto, which is an animistic belief important to the customs and daily lives of the Japanese.
They have religious celebrations but not for Holy Week Christianity.
Japan has several Shinto shrines, such as the Fushimi Inari Taisha, in Kyoto or the Itsukushima on the sacred island of Miyajima (Hiroshima Prefecture).
10-Qatar
It is a country where the Christian faith is not preached for the most part. At least 70 per cent of the population is mostly Muslim.
11-Vietnam
The 2010 census revealed that the most widespread religion in the country is Buddhism, with 49 per cent of people professing it. Others are faithful to Confucianism and Taoism.
In African countries where Christians are the majority is celebrated with national holiday, church attendance, and parties among others.