Good Friday

Linda - posted on 04/06/2010

I was raised Catholic, but don't practice anymore.... unless it's just to make my dad happy. We never ate meat on Fridays during Lent. I usually forgot til I was half done with a pepperoni pizza at school. My dad still fasts, or at least eats less on Fridays. Especially Good Friday. But even he told me he can wait til next year when he's 60 so he doesn't have to do it anymore. There are all sorts of medical and age provisions that the Catholic church puts out for loop holes. I think they are trying to make it more palatable for the great number of people who probably shouldn't fast, but don't want to feel guilty for not doing it. I think that's also why most churches won't ask you to not eat meat on Fridays all year. I'm really surprised how many people have never even heard of it, but I guess if you weren't raised around it, it wouldn't be something you'd be aware of. I was 17 before I realized McD's only advertises their fish sandwich during Lent, tho.

....As for why the Jewish aren't supposed to mix meat and milk..... I believe it has something to do with the Kosher-ness of a meal. Cooking a calf in the milk of it's mother is not Kosher. They are supposed to have separate dishes and pans for it.

Charlie - posted on 04/05/2010

Im not religious but i dont eat meat on good Friday simply because my whole family doesnt eat meat and i get a huge box of seafood for free to feast on !

ME - posted on 04/05/2010

My family and I are Catholic, and we actually don't eat meat on any friday during Lent. Good Friday is the last of those, and we have never eaten meat on that day either. I have NEVER heard of a non-catholic person keeping that tradition for any reason (unless, like my husband, they joined a family that IS Catholic). He went with us to the community fish fry each friday during lent, and enjoyed his fish...I would not have been offended, however, if he chose to eat meat on those days...

Celia - posted on 04/04/2010

I am Agnostic and eat meat whenever I want without fear of insulting anyone, to each their own.

Holly - posted on 04/04/2010

I've never heard of that tradition, and my dad is a pastor (Methodist Church). We always ate like normal on Good Friday. I'll have to ask my best friend (who is a semi-participating Catholic - she has to work most Sunday mornings) to see if she follows the tradition, or if her mother does (her mom goes to the Catholic Church every Sunday).

Lindsay - posted on 04/03/2010

Kelly, I was about to post nearly the same thing as you said. That's what I've always understood it was for as well.

Kelly - posted on 04/03/2010

"Can someone explain how the tradition of no-meat on Fridays during Lent is all about? I know some of my Catholic friends sort of in a roud abotu way observe it. How come no meat on Fridays? "

As I understood it, fasting and not eating meat on Fridays of Lent was supposed to signify the 40days Jesus spend in fasting in the desert to become closer to God the Father (Jesus is God the Son, and there is a Holy Spirit, but all three are supposed to be one God in three different entities....I'm still trying to wrap my mind around that, not sure I'll ever understand it). Apparently, it works like the rubber band memory method--the sensation of the rubber band around your wrist or finger reminds you of something you put it there to remind you of. During Lent, the hunger pangs remind you of Christ's suffering and to pray. I think.

Lea - posted on 04/03/2010

Eating meat during lent makes Jesus sad

Jocelyn - posted on 04/03/2010

You know, even tho I'm not Catholic, (or even Christian lol) I always wanted to observe Lent. I don't know why, but ever since I was a little girl I would think about what I would like to give up for 40 days. Yeah I'm weird :P But I'm sure one day I'll do it!

Jeannette - posted on 04/03/2010

It is not against my beliefs to eat meat on any day. As a matter of fact, I'd consider it a carnal sin if someone told me I couldn't eat meat! lol!

Christa - posted on 04/03/2010

IMO.....your intentions for whatever you practice are what counts. If you aren't practicing your faith.....and you eat meat; I see no disrespect from that action.

Iris - posted on 04/03/2010

I had some pasta with chicken, guess I'll have to ask mom about how it was growing up though....just can't remember...

Cathy - posted on 04/03/2010

I tried to give up chocolate for lent once .... lasted all of three days!

Erin - posted on 04/03/2010

Lent is the 40 days (excluding Sundays) between Ash Wednesday and Easter. It is a period of fasting and penitence observed by Catholics and some other denominations of Christianity. Historically they ate only one meal a day, and meat, dairy and eggs were forbidden. They also abstained from dancing, entertainment and sex. Now the tradition involves no meat on Fridays during this time, and sacrificing some other luxury of your choice.

. - posted on 04/03/2010

I feel silly asking this but what is Lent?

Good Day! - posted on 04/02/2010

Sharon, tell him, just pour a bunch of oil into a big pot, roll the fish and potatoes in seasoned corn meal (or ready made fish fry) and drop it all into the steaming hot oil. When its golden brown use a pair of tongs to take it out. Couldn't be simpler.

I enjoyed tacos with ground meat tonight by the way.

Sharon - posted on 04/02/2010

My catholic husband is in the kitchen trying to figure out how my digital deepfryer works. He's been on about this for days.

So far I've had to help clean the kitchen, help him take apart the deepfryer, help him clean the deepfryer, help him put it together, help him figure out where the fill line is inside, help him figure out how to set the temperature, help him read the batter packages, help him decide if he was going to double dip or not, help him figure out how to make french fries, fry before the fish? fry after?

OMFG... next time I'm just going to long john silvers.. shit head

Johnny - posted on 04/02/2010

Sharon, you crack me up! I'm cooking home-made pork sausages that will be served with gnocchi and a tomato/fennel sauce and topped with.... romano cheese. And then we'll serve the entire thing with a nice Italian red. I guess I'm joining Krista in offending almost every religion (save the Hindus) all at once. Perhaps we'll have to have some sort of cow related appetizer just to make sure we've covered all the bases.

Sharon - posted on 04/02/2010

I think the very lazy catholics (like my husband) do this no meat on Good friday because its easy to do. Its like their half a brownie point for the year. They managed to follow a rule.. kwim?

Sharon - posted on 04/02/2010

well hell... no one said he had to finish up that way...

WHY??? are we eating fish tonight because its good friday but he's perfectly happy to spill his "seed" (more like super glue) into a wad of toilet paper?? I ought to complain to his mother...

Dana - posted on 04/02/2010

And waste that perfectly good seed?? Bite your tongue, preferably without your husbands....

Sharon - posted on 04/02/2010

LOL that person is a nut. If the non-catholic wants to eat meat - eat meat. Hey? Does this mean blowjobs are out on good friday? I'll bet my catholic husband says no.

Dana - posted on 04/02/2010

Okay, just found this.



Most Catholics think that Vatican II did away with the requirement of not eating meat on any Friday of the year. Most think it is now just Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent that we cannot eat meat.



This is what the new Code of Canon Law brought out in 1983 says about the matter:



Canon 1251

Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.





Canon Law still requires that Catholics not eat meat on Fridays!



http://www.catholic-pages.com/life/frida...

In case anyone was interested. :)

Dana - posted on 04/02/2010

Yeah, I guess I didn't word it correctly because I wasn't sure how to. I thought that it was allowed but most people stick to tradition. I could be completely wrong.

Krista - posted on 04/02/2010

Sharon, no CHEESEBURGERS. I'm sorry, but that's just not right at all.

Erin - posted on 04/02/2010

Dana all the Catholics I know (which is A LOT) still do no-meat for Good Friday so as far as I know the tradition is still very much alive and well.

Sapphire - posted on 04/02/2010

Can someone explain how the tradition of no-meat on Fridays during Lent is all about? I know some of my Catholic friends sort of in a roud abotu way observe it. How come no meat on Fridays?



OK, so I'll throw another 'no-no' food & religion at ya: Did you know that Jews are NOT supposed to mix meat with dairy? No steak with a glass of milk? No burger with chocolate milk. I grew up knowing that rule while we were in my grandma's home, not my own house. I don't know the reason why, I should ask my dad!

Dana - posted on 04/02/2010

It's only a Catholic thing. Growing up and going to a Church of Christ, we ate meat on Good Friday. I thought the Catholic church gave that tradition up? Anyone know if they did or did not.

Rosie - posted on 04/02/2010

i work in retail and on ash wednesday (the beginning of lent) years ago i saw a whole bunch of people come in with a dirt smudge on their forhead. i couldn't get over how many people were just plain dirty that day and i had no clue what was going on. i told somebody that i thought it was weird everybody was dirty and they laughed their butts off at my expense. apparantly people also smear ashes on their forhead in observance of lent, i am very ignorant sometimes!! lol!

Erin - posted on 04/02/2010

Well it seems some other friends jumped on this person, basically reminding her that it was a predominantly Catholic tradition etc. Around here other denominations do observe this rule too, so it's interesting to find that elsewhere people didn't even know it existed.

Oh and as for Lent, I certainly don't observe that tradition, and neither does my (very lapsed Catholic) family. It's weird that they stick to the Good Friday meat ban but ignore Lent.

Krista - posted on 04/02/2010

We had pork sausage for supper, so we managed to offend Catholics, Jews AND Muslims! Oh, plus we had a side salad with arugula, to offend the right-wingers with our liberal eliteness. And we washed it down with a cold beer, to offend the teetotalers.

My work is done.

Lea - posted on 04/02/2010

OM NOM NOM NOM

Rosie - posted on 04/02/2010

in the church i grew up in these traditions were never followed and it wasn't until i was older, maybe 18 that i had even heard of it. i now consider myself atheist, but when i was following i still ate meat and found it silly that people wouldn't. how does not eating meat prove that you love god? do you love him less cause you ate a big juicy steak? i consider good works, and living a life of good deeds prove that you love god-not giving up a cheeseburger. if someone wants to do this to show their devotion to god, by all means do it, just don't think you're a better christian than your fellowchurchgoer who ate meat.

if i was out with someone that followed this tradition i would still eat meat, i don't think it's disrespectful to do so, why should i follow another religions belief?

Rose - posted on 04/02/2010

I didn't even know that you weren't suppose to eat meat on good friday. Hmmmm you learn somehthing everyday. I am not religious but i do believe in god. I don't think it is disrespectful to anyone considering everyone has there own beliefs.

Jenny - posted on 04/02/2010

Gillian, if you're going to McDonalds you'll likely not be eating meat anyways lol.

Jenn, tell me more of these stuffed mushrooms...

Mary - posted on 04/02/2010

I think the no-meat thing was true for EVERY Friday year-round prior to Vatican II in 1962, as well as completely fasting prior to receiving Communion. After that, Catholics only had to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent.



I'm also pretty sure that the no-meat thing is only done by Catholics, and not all Christians.

~Jennifer - posted on 04/02/2010

We're having fish tonight.

(because it's on sale for GF, not because we're 'not eating meat')

....maybe I'll make crab & sausage stuffed mushrooms just so I don't appear to be adhering to 'traditional practices'

=)

I do recall, however, that my Irish Catholic grandfather never ate meat on ANY Friday - ever.

Cathy - posted on 04/02/2010

Never heard I was not meant to eat meat on fridays during lent .... maybe that tradition successfully skipped us meat loving Brits. Such a shame ... oh well never mind... here chicky chicky!

Laura - posted on 04/02/2010

I'm a Christian but of the Lutheran religion and I've never grown up with no meat Fridays. We've never fasted for Lent or anything. I never really understood the purpose of fasting until I was much older. But, where I live Friday night Fish Frys are a huge tradition all year round. If you are a resturant owner you had better have a fish fry if you want any business on Friday night. Obviously people can order whatever they want, there is meat on the menu but the majority of people come out for the fish fry whether it's a religious motivation or way to wreck something that was healthy for you motivation.

Lady - posted on 04/02/2010

Well we're off to McDonalds to give the kids a Good Friday treat, so we obviously don't follow this rule. My MIL does even though she's not catholic, she does lent as well but I don't know why. I think she's just trying to hedge her bets and follow some rules just in case lol!!

Esther - posted on 04/02/2010

lol - I'm with Jocelyn. I had no idea I wasn't supposed to eat meat on Good Friday. Anyway, now that I know, I'll still eat meat tonight - hehe. Sorry, a meal just isn't a meal without meat for me. Sorry people! No disrespect.

Mary - posted on 04/02/2010

Erin, this is what I mean when I refer to myself as "culturally Catholic". I can't tell you the last time I went to mass when it wasn't a funeral, wedding or major holiday (and then, only to please my parents & accompany them). There are some "traditions" that I maintain, such as the no meat on Fridays in Lent, giving up something for Lent, having an Advent Wreath and lighting that additional candle each Sunday, and whatnot, that I continue to do every year. It's not so much faith-based as it is maintaining the traditions of my childhood.



As for others eating meat on Fridays...I never considered that a non-Catholic would...it's not part of their beleif system, so why would they? Growing up, if my mom were to take me and some friends to,say, McDonald's on a Friday in lent, SHe would make ME get that nasty fish sandwich, but my non-Catholic friends could still get a burger, no big deal.

Jessica - posted on 04/01/2010

I eat meat, anyday..although I find it kinda of funny that fish get shafted into the "not important enough life to be considered meat" pile.

?? - posted on 04/01/2010

I don't participate in any religious traditions. I respect everyone's choice to participate or to not participate in any tradition they want, but I certainly don't feel that I am disrespecting anyone by not participating in their tradition, just as much as I don't think they are disrespecting me by participating in their tradition even though I am there, and I don't.

Johnny - posted on 04/01/2010

I don't practice those religions so I am in no way obligated to follow their rules. It would only be disrespectful if I went to their house for a Good Friday potluck or something and showed up with meat. As someone else mentioned I don't have to fast during Ramadan nor Lent, and I am free to eat pork products and raw fish despite what some religions believe about those products. Does your friend honor the dietary rules of all other religions? If not, she's a hypocrite.

Alison - posted on 04/01/2010

I'm a Christian and I've never given this tradition any thought. I probably never will again. I'm vegetarian so I don't eat meat on any day of the year, but that's a personal choice and has nothing to do with my faith.

I read my bible every day and I've never come across anything that states that one should not eat meat on Good Friday or any other Friday. It's a tradition, but not a rule. Each Christian should adopt or abstain from extra biblical traditions that enable them to personally honor God. They should also leave the rest of us alone to do likewise.

Good Day! - posted on 04/01/2010

Oh goodness...being in south Louisiana if you eat meat on any Friday during Lent you are pretty much doomed to Hell....kidding but you know what I mean. I am not Catholic but the vast majority of the people that live in my area are. Restaurants and schools cater to this pretty heavily. Schools serve fish patties every Friday during Lent. I went to a Baptist wedding recently on a Friday and no meat was served.

We joke about how much of a sacrafice it is to not eat steak on Fridays. We just have a crawfish boil instead! Let me tell you, it is so hard...lol!

It's just so ingrained in the culture here, that I don't think twice about it. But I don't think it is disrespectful to eat meat, and I don't think any of my Catholic friends would be offended if I did.

Carolee - posted on 04/01/2010

It's not disrespectful if it's not your belief. The only exception, I think, is if you are visiting family that is uber religious and you know that they will take offense if you eat meat on that certain day.

Jenny - posted on 04/01/2010

I have never heard of this no meat tradition. I am an athiest so I will be celebrating tomorrow by having paid day off, sleeping in, doing yard work and drinking beer in the sun. Now that's a good Friday!

LaCi - posted on 04/01/2010

I'm an atheist. I'm also a vegetarian. It's always a no meat day for me.