Good Friday in Singapore

Dates

History & significance

Good Friday is the Christian observance of the crucifixion and death of Jesus, kept on the Friday before Easter Sunday. It is the most solemn day of Holy Week, marked by fasting, abstinence and quiet reflection rather than celebration. Its date is tied to the Western (Gregorian) calculation of Easter, so it moves each year, usually falling in late March or April. About one in five Singapore residents is Christian, and the day has been a public holiday since before independence.

How it’s observed in Singapore

Churches across the island — among them St Andrew’s Cathedral, the Church of St Mary of the Angels and Novena Church (St Alphonsus) — hold well-attended Good Friday services, the Stations of the Cross (the Way of the Cross) and Passion readings. Many Catholics observe fasting and abstinence from meat. Services run through the day and into the evening, so parking around larger churches in Novena, the city and the east can be tight.

What's open and what's closed

Banks, government offices and schools are closed. Malls, supermarkets, restaurants and attractions stay open as normal, and public transport runs to a public-holiday timetable. Because Good Friday always falls on a Friday, it reliably creates a three-day long weekend, so getaway spots, the Causeway to Johor Bahru and Changi Airport see heavier traffic. Note that Easter Monday is not a public holiday in Singapore — only the Friday is gazetted.

Common questions