Why Only Fish? Origin Of The Good Friday Tradition, Explained

Every year, Christians across the world observe Good Friday and Easter weekend by skipping meat-based dishes and preparing a feast of fish and seafood dishes. For those who don’t know, Good Friday was the day according to the Bible’s New Testament when Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for the sake of humankind. Good Friday commemorates his crucifixion at Calvary, near Jerusalem. Members of various Christian denominations, ranging from Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran and Anglican to Methodist, Oriental Orthodox, Protestants and Presbyterians, all observe Good Friday by fasting and through church services.  

But why do Christians all over the world eat fish and refrain from eating meat during Good Friday? Here’s all you need to know about the story behind Good Friday, the sacrifice of Christ, and how this directly relates to Christians skipping meat. 

Abstinence From Meat, A Cornerstone Of Christian Faith

Anybody who knows anything about Christians, irrespective of their denomination, knows this: Christians eat meat and it has been a ritual part of their diet and culture since the religion was born. However, according to Christians, especially Catholics, there are certain days of the year when all followers must practice abstinence in many forms. Ash Wednesday, the day that marks the beginning of the 40-day period of Lent, is one such day. Ash Wednesday marks the day when Christ went into the desert to fast and pray, and overcame all sorts of temptations, including that of eating meat. 

Similarly, given Good Friday was the day when Christ sacrificed himself (technically his own flesh), Christians believe abstaining from flesh meat is important on that day. In fact, for the longest time, Catholics and other Christians abstained from eating meat or any overindulgent foods on all Fridays. Instead, they ate fish or vegetables or other animal products like eggs, cheese and milk. The idea, as mentioned in the Catholic Source Book by Reverend Peter Klein (1990), is to not eat any flesh meats since Christ sacrificed his own flesh and body on a Friday.  

Christians, especially Catholics, believe that this abstinence from meat honours Christ’s sacrifice while also showing it as a form of penance. Since Catholics believe that Christ died for the sins of all mankind, it is their duty to express sorrow and contrition for human sins and make appropriate reparations. Self-denial, particularly when it comes to food, helps people make reparations for their sins and brings them closer to Christ and God. Abstaining from indulging in cravings, especially for flesh meat, therefore became a cornerstone of the Christian faith on all Fridays up until 1966, and especially on Good Friday. 

Fish And Seafood As Meat Substitutes On Fridays 

But why is this abstinence from flesh meat not extended to fish and seafood? In fact, until very recently, why did Catholics across the world only eat fish and seafood on all fasting Fridays, including Good Friday? The reason, as explained by the Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis, is simple. Flesh meat, which Christians avoid on Good Friday, includes the meat of all mammals and poultry. This means beef, pork, chicken, turkey, quail, pheasants, duck and lamb are all prohibited from consumption on this day. The flesh of fish and seafood do not fall under this category, and are therefore allowed—and so are milk, cheese, butter and eggs, which are technically not flesh meat. 

Catholics believe that the root of the term carnivore comes from the Latin word Caro, which has never included fish and seafood. The latter have always been placed in their own separate categories of Piscus and Conchylium. The reason is that while flesh meat comes from warm-blooded animals, fish and seafood are cold-blooded and are therefore even scientifically a different class of animals. So, in a way, the Catholic and Christian abstinence from flesh meat on Good Friday and their consumption of fish and seafood dishes are scientifically backed practices. 

However, many believe that there are cultural and socio-economic factors that also lead to the consumption of fish during Good Friday. In a not-so-distant past in the Mediterranean and Levantine regions where Christianity was born, fish and seafood was widely, easily and cheaply available to all. Flesh meat was more expensive, which is why it was eaten occasionally—and in the poorest of households, it was reserved only for days of feasting and rejoicing. So, while fasting and practicing abstinence during Ash Wednesday or Good Friday, fish and seafood became the only easy sources of protein and nutrition.  

No matter which reason you buy into, the fact remains that eating fish on Good Friday is a tradition that has now been followed for generations all over the world by Christians. This does not, however, mean that Christians indulge in luxurious lobster dishes on Good Friday. No, the cornerstone, as you might remember is abstinence and penance. So, a simple feast of fish is all you need to celebrate Christ’s sacrifice on Good Friday.