I remember when I was in the military back in the 1960's, the chow hall facilities always seemed to offer fish for their Friday meals.
I didn't mind eating fish because I enjoy fish as a meal. However, I soon began to see a trend, namely, it was ONLY on Fridays that fish was the principal "meat."
So, I asked someone who worked in the chow hall why this was so. Why no fish on, say, Tuesday? He told me that he thought it was because Catholics believed that a person should eat fish on Friday.
Okay, but WHY?
The only reason I could figure out was that possibly it had something to do with the "fact" that Catholics believe that Jesus was crucified on "Good Friday," and that's how they commemorated His crucifixion.
Is this, in fact, true?
Now, generally speaking, I don't place a lot of stock in most all traditions that, for some reason, Catholics maintain. To me, I find little or no Biblical reason for them.
I'm curious to find out if the custom of eating fish on Friday did have its origin within Catholic tradition.
Again, I DO like fish. It's probably better for us than most of the fat-laden "red meat" that is common among Western dietary patterns.
Compared to, e.g., that of many Oriental dietary patterns that are primarily "fish-patterned" (along with rice). Mortality rates seem to be a lot higher in the West compared to those in the Orient, and, for that reason, I suspect that we in the West might be healthier if we reduce our "red meat" consumption.
That being said, I come back to my original question concerning Catholics eating fish on Fridays.
Do they do that to some how commemorate Christ being crucified on "Good Friday," or is there another reason for the custom of "Fish Fridays"?
I didn't mind eating fish because I enjoy fish as a meal. However, I soon began to see a trend, namely, it was ONLY on Fridays that fish was the principal "meat."
So, I asked someone who worked in the chow hall why this was so. Why no fish on, say, Tuesday? He told me that he thought it was because Catholics believed that a person should eat fish on Friday.
Okay, but WHY?
The only reason I could figure out was that possibly it had something to do with the "fact" that Catholics believe that Jesus was crucified on "Good Friday," and that's how they commemorated His crucifixion.
Is this, in fact, true?
Now, generally speaking, I don't place a lot of stock in most all traditions that, for some reason, Catholics maintain. To me, I find little or no Biblical reason for them.
I'm curious to find out if the custom of eating fish on Friday did have its origin within Catholic tradition.
Again, I DO like fish. It's probably better for us than most of the fat-laden "red meat" that is common among Western dietary patterns.
Compared to, e.g., that of many Oriental dietary patterns that are primarily "fish-patterned" (along with rice). Mortality rates seem to be a lot higher in the West compared to those in the Orient, and, for that reason, I suspect that we in the West might be healthier if we reduce our "red meat" consumption.
That being said, I come back to my original question concerning Catholics eating fish on Fridays.
Do they do that to some how commemorate Christ being crucified on "Good Friday," or is there another reason for the custom of "Fish Fridays"?
