Matthaeuspassion

It has been awhile since I attended mass for Good Friday, and this year was no different. I also am not totally sure if the Friday before Easter is even called Good Friday in English; I guess that is an indication of the last time I worried about doing something special on that day. Lord knows I was in the middle of nowhere in Santa Fe county last time this day crossed my path, or trail, if you will. Obviously I was not doing anything then, nor for Easter. But I preferred what I was doing.

Notice that I said I did not attend mass. I was, however, in a church. A little place called St. Sebald kirche, for a little something else called Matthaeuspassion conzert. I thought I was going to hearing some nice orchestra music, but it turned out to be some kind of play type thing written by Bach. I did enjoy the full ensemble of instruments, and even though I didn't understand the German, I would have stayed had that church not been so freezing. After the first part ended, we headed outside to take in the warm rays of the sun, and once that happened a nice cup of kaffee outside the Durer Haus seemed more appealing then freezing our arses off for another 1 hour, 2 hours? --that is what we did not want to find out. It did feel good to do some kind of cultural, religious type thing, in case it's all true.

They are calling the day Karfreitag here, which apparently has no meaning, just like Sylvester- the German name for New Year's Eve, don't worry it is not a direct translation. I originally told them that Karfreitag was Black Friday in English, I guess I thought this because this is the day commemorating JC's ailing up to the crucifix and eventual death. I'm pretty sure I was way off though, and Black Friday is the day after xmas with all the deals in the stores- the only time of year they are in the black. So the question that I cannot answer now is...why is it called GOOD Friday?