People have been left baffled after finding out why it’s considered tradition to eat fish on Good Friday.

The religious event takes place today (April 18), and people around the world will be tucking into seafood to mark the occasion. If you don’t know the reason why, there’s a simple explanation.

Social media users brought the topic up on Reddit, and it got a lot of people talking. Much was explained about why people opt to sample the classic Easter feast.

One person wrote: “Do practicing Christians HAVE to eat fish on Good Friday? Well, I’m a former Christian and now Agnostic, but feeling superstitious due to a rough month, and thought I should probably pay my dues to Uncle J today by abstaining from meat.

“The problem is I’ve been out with my dad and his friends all day, so I haven’t had a chance to make food. Traditionally dinner with my mom would be salmon, but I live on my own. It’s now midnight, I’m kind of ready to hit the sack, but a part of me thinks that one HAS to eat fish today. Like, you aren’t meant to just sacrifice eating red meat and poultry, you specifically have to eat a symbolic fish while in prayer?”

One person shared their thoughts, writing: “No, you don’t have to eat fish on Good Friday. Avoiding red meat and poultry on Fridays in general is mostly a Catholic tradition. Plenty of Christians don’t follow it, especially protestants.”

Another wrote: “No. They could chose the eat nothing or anything but meat. Since the traditional meal includes a protein, fish is the main protein of choice when meat is not available.”

A third also replied: “Even people who ascribe to the ‘no meat on Good Friday’ tradition (not Biblical imperative, but tradition) can just eat a salad. Nowhere does it say you have to eat fish.”

Meanwhile, a fourth also commented: “I’m Christian and literally don’t know anyone who does this. That, I believe, is a Catholic thing. And it’s no red meat, not must eat fish.”

Why do people eat fish on Good Friday?

For Christians, Good Friday is considered a day of fasting and abstinence. This is done to remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

Over the years, many people have opted to eat fish, as it’s seen as a way to abstain from meat while still enjoying a meal. But this rule is not set in stone, so not everyone follows it.

Even though it’s common to eat fish on Good Friday, it’s not a practice that’s accepted worldwide. For many Christians, the tradition is seen as more symbolic rather than something that’s mandatory.

It originated from the Catholic Church’s rule against eating meat on Fridays, but this has been altered over the years. Fish is a common substitute for meat for a lot of people, and some non-Christians have even adopted the Good Friday meal as a cultural tradition.

Some Christian denominations are quite relaxed about what they eat though. For some, the act of abstaining from meat is more important than what you opt to eat on the day.

For a lot of people, especially in the UK, fish and chips is a popular meal of choice to tuck into on Good Friday. Even non-Christians can decide to eat fish.