Why do Christians eat fish at Easter? Reasons behind Good Friday traditions

Christians across the world remember the death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday – commemorating how he was crucified before rising from the dead only two days later.

The occasion is usually marked with sombre prayer services, but customs of the day also extend to food, with Christians traditionally eating fish as a mark of respect.

But what’s the exact reason for this, you may well ask?

Well, it’s all to do with the Christian belief that Jesus sacrificed his body, and therefore flesh, when he was crucified.

Therefore, it’s forbidden to eat meat – as a mark of a respect for Jesus paying the ultimate sacrifice.

According to Catholicism.org: ‘The obvious answer that every Catholic should know is that it is a penance imposed by the Church to commemorate the day of the Crucifixion of Our Lord – to enable us to make a small sacrifice for the incredible sacrifice He made for our salvation.’

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But while meat isn’t permitted, fish is acceptable – and it’s because Christians consider it to be a flesh of the sea, and therefore not of the same variety.

They also believe that it also reflects Jesus’s teachings, and how he fed 5000 people with five loaves and two fish.