Good Friday (Christian)
The Friday before Easter, commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Among some sects of Christianity and in many countries today is a day of fasting.

In Dutch the day is called “Goede Vrijdag”, which can literally be translated as “Good Friday”. In Israel, Good Friday is known as “Big Friday.” In Germany it is “Karfreitag”, an Old German word meaning “Friday of lamentation”, although this meaning is not obvious to speakers of modern German. In Malta, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia (and in the Eastern Orthodox Church generally) the day is called Great Friday. In Armenia it is called “High Friday (Ավագ Ուրբաթ)”. In Russia they call it “Passion Friday (Strastnaja Pjatnitsa)”. In Latin America, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal the day is called “Holy Friday”; in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Faroe Islands and Iceland it is “Long Friday”. In Portuguese language it is called “Sexta-Feira Santa” meaning “Holy Friday” while the day is named “Mahal na Araw” or Biyernes Santo”(Holy Friday) in the Philippines.*

* source: wikipedia - Good Friday

Holy Thursday / Maundy Thursday / Great Thursday (Christian)
The Thursday before Easter, commemorates Christ’s Last Supper with the Apostles.

On this day four events are commemorated: the washing of the Disciples’ feet by Jesus Christ, the institution of the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, the agony of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, and the betrayal of Christ by Judas.*

*source: wikipedia - Maundy Thursday

Palm Sunday (Christian)
As Jesus made his entry into Jerusalem, the crowds lined his path with palm fronds. In churches today, observances include the blessing and distribution of Palm leaves to their congregants.

Today is also the beginning of Holy Week, the countdown to Christ’s crucifixion and his resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Note: This years extra palm leaves will be used for the ashes on Ash Wednesday 2009.

Image used with permission: Jeff Miller / The Curt Jester

Ash Wednesday (Christian)
The first day of the Lent and the period when Christians begin their 40 day* of fasting and penitence leading up to Easter Sunday.

Followers receive a mark of ashes in the sign of the cross on their foreheads signifying the belief that “from dust you came, to dust you shall return.” A version of which is stated by the priest when the ashes are administered to each follower.

The ashes used are from palm leaves left over from the previous years Palm Sunday observances.

*While the Lenten period is actually 46 days, Sundays are not considered part of the period of penance.