Here's what's open and closed on Good Friday 2024

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FILE - A woman kisses a crucifix of Jesus as she and the church celebrate the Roman Catholic Holiday of Good Friday at the church of St. Rose of Lima Parish in Chelsea, Massachusetts, on April 15, 2022. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Ge

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Good Friday, a Christian holiday observed on the Friday before Easter, is a day to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus.

While it’s not a U.S. federal holiday, Good Friday is recognized as a state holiday in a dozen states – meaning there are some government offices, local businesses and other closures in some places.

Here’s everything you need to know about Good Friday.

What is Good Friday?

Good Friday is a day recognized by Christians as part of "Holy Week." Christians believe that Good Friday was when Jesus Christ was crucified. They believe he was resurrected on Easter Sunday.

Catholics and other religions often fast on Good Friday.

The holy day is always the Friday before Easter Sunday, which falls in either March or April, depending on the year. The date of Good Friday changes yearly. This year, it falls on March 29.

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An Iraqi man wearing a red-smeared white robe and a headpiece replicating the crown of thorns carried a wood cross through the town of Alqosh to commemorate Good Friday. Credit - Karam Alqoshy via Storyful

Do banks close on Good Friday?

Since it’s not a federal holiday, most banks will be open on Good Friday.

But there are 12 states in the U.S. that recognize Good Friday as a state holiday, so some banks may be closed in the following states: Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina and North Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas.

Is mail delivered on Good Friday?

FILE - A U.S. Post Office truck sits parked in a suburban neighborhood on Feb. 10, 2022, in NORTH HALEDON, N.J. (Photo by Michael Bocchieri/Getty Images)

Yes. Mail service is not interrupted on Good Friday (again, it’s not a federal holiday).

UPS and FedEx are also open with normal hours, according to their websites.

Do government agencies close on Good Friday?

Federal offices will remain open on Good Friday, but in the 12 states where Good Friday is a state holiday (see above), government offices there will likely be closed.

Is the stock market open on Good Friday?

No. The Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) are both closed on Good Friday.

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