The symbolism of March 25!
1. The “original” Good Friday
Even though the date of Good Friday changes every year depending on Easter, the day of Jesus’s death actually happened on one specific day in history. There had to be one day on the calendar for the first “Good Friday.” Traditionally, this day has been recognized as March 25. There are some interesting reasons as to why. One has to do with the conception of Jesus, which was on March 25 as well (the feast of the Annunciation) as well as another important feast day…
2…the Good Thief
Because the Church traditionally uses the day of the Saint’s death as his/her feast day (it is the “day” they enter Heaven after all), it has long been the feast day of the one person the Bible tells us went to “paradise” on the day of Jesus’s death, Dismas, the “good thief.”
Check out this video with a cool story of the Good Thief that comes from an ancient tradition as well!
3…Jewish tradition
The traditional first day of Creation (Genesis 1) and the “akedah,” the binding of Isaac (Genesis 22) in Judaism is March 25. This creates some symbolic connection with Jesus’s sacrifice on the Cross, as it is the sacrifice that God said he would provide in place of Isaac and Jesus’s sacrifice brings about the New Creation through the Church, which is the “body of Christ” according to St. Paul (1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 2:4-5; Colossians 1:24; and others).
4…Poetic
The start of Dante’s journey through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven in the Divine Comedy begins this day, the year the story is set, March 25 was Holy Thursday, which allowed for Dante to leave Hell on Easter Sunday. While this example comes afterwards, the fact that Dante chose this day points to its significance in the Christian tradition.
5…Epic!
Similarly, another literary masterpiece of a difference genre uses March 25 as a special day as well. J.R.R. Tolkien in his Lord of the Rings series, marks March 25 as the day the One Ring was destroyed in Mt. Doom. With the ring being a symbol for the power of sin, it makes sense that Good Friday would mark the day the power of sin was destroyed in the world through the loving sacrifice of Jesus. This day is now celebrated as Tolkien Reading Day!
