Schaff's Bible Dictionary
PREPARA'TION, or PREPARA'TION-DAY, is the term for Friday, because on that day preparation was made and meals cooked for the Sabbath. It might be rendered "fore-Sabbath" (comp. the Greek in Mark 15:42) or "Sabbath-eve" (comp. the German Sonnabend for "Saturday"). Matt 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:14, 1 Chr 24:31, 1 Chr 2:42. The "preparation of the Passover," in John 19:14, means the Paschal Friday, or the Friday occurring during the week of the Passover (as in vers. 1 Chr 24:31 and 1 Chr 2:42). On that Friday (the 15th of Nisan) Christ was crucified.
PRES'ENTS played in old time and in Eastern countries a much larger part in social life than now, though in many Eastern countries at this day even the common people, in their familiar visits, take a flower or an orange, or some other token of respect, to the person visited. Gen 32:13. See Gift.