Significance of Good Friday and why fish is eaten on this day

Popularly known as Good Friday or Holy Friday, it is the most important Catholic festival that’s observed globally. It is said that this day is observed in order to honour the resurrection of Jesus Christ when he was crucified. This popular festival is part of the Holy Week and falls between Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday and precedes Easter Sunday. It’s basically a day when Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for everyone’s sins. Good Friday also marks the end of ‘Lent’ which is a 40-day fasting period for Christians. Some believers of Christianity also fast on this day and when the fast is broken in the evening, they abstain from eating any meat and instead consume fruits & vegetables with fish, milk, eggs and grains. (Images courtesy: iStock)

Also Read: Traditional Good Friday Meal ideas

Many would-be wondering, if Jesus was crucified then why this day is called a “Good” Friday. There are several reasons why people call it a ‘Good Friday’. Some believe that Christ’s death was no ordinary occurrence and it was a way to bring salvation for mankind. While others believe that the day was originally called ‘God’s Friday’ and over time it morphed into ‘Good Friday’ and some people believe the title of the day is justified since the suffering of Jesus was God’s plan to save his followers from sins.

This popular festival falls on the sixth day of Holy Week which lead to Easter. It is said that the aforementioned crucifixion took place around AD 30 or AD 33. According to the Church's Lunar calendar, Easter is celebrated on the first Sunday after Paschal Full Moon which is on April 17th this year while Good Friday will be observed on April 15.

For this day, people normally start preparing a week before, with the dough for the bread being kneaded and braided. Churches observe the day with a service that normally takes place in the evening, where they remember Christ’s death with hymns, and thanksgiving prayers, talk about the special significance that the day holds and observe the Lord’s Supper.

Christians and Catholics do not eat meat and instead have fish in their meals. It is because fish comes from the sea hence, is believed to be a different kind of flesh. Fish shapes were also believed to be secret symbols by which Christians would identify each other at a time when their religion had been banned. A lot of those who followed Jesus Christ were also fishermen. Also, in ancient times meat was seen as a delicacy, while fish was something that was easily affordable by most of the people. Another reason for consuming fish on this day is that the fish is considered cold-blooded while the other meats are hot-blooded, which is not good for the people who are fasting.

If we look the global trends, then the most basic yet popular dish is a ‘Hot Cross Bun’. People eat it in the breakfast along with Scrambled Eggs, Shrimp Scampi, Chocolate Eggs, Lobster Roll, Grilled Fish Tacos and what not! Any seafood goes best on this day. Also, another surprising fact about this day is the Churches make a bitter drink, which is prepared mostly from leaves and vinegar and is tasted by all after the service.