Fish On Friday

[Starman 2112]

Why do people traditionally eat fish on a Friday?

[andy hughes]

This dates back from early Christianity. Original jewish fast days were Tuesday and Thursday - Christians moved them to Wednesday and Friday - Jesus was betrayed on Wednesday, and crucified on Friday. The notion of fasting meant leaving something out of the diet as a dicipline of the soul. Meat was seen as a luxery because you had to own cattle, or be able to afford to buy it. Fish could be caught by anyone, so equated with a poor person's diet. So the tradition evolved of abstaining from meat on the fast days, and eating fish as a substitute.

[cruthinboy]

Isn't it only old catholics that still do it? I mean Roman catholics who are getting on in years, not the German 19th century schismatic group.

[nicola_red]

I was brought up Church of England and we were only allowed to eat fish on Good Friday, but my dad is Catholic and he was brought up to only eat fish on all Fridays. But every Friday the fishmongers' van parks in our village and there's always a queue...

[andy hughes]

My mother-in-law is Catholic, and she routinely serves fish for tea on Fridays. My wife is Catholic, as are my children, and they don't bother.

[becks]

When I was about 14 I worked ina fish and chip shop and fridays were always the busiest. That is all.

[keirah]

catholics

[Ouisch]

Until Vatican II (1962), meatless Friday was a standard Catholic practice. It was supposed to be a form of sacrifice, you see. After Vatican II, it became permissible for Catholics to eat meat on Fridays, but many staunch Catholics, or older ones, still stick to fish or macaroni and cheese.