Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Do you eat meat on Good Friday?

111 replies

BocolateChiscuit · 19/04/2019 18:42

I’m not a Christian but was brought up going to Sunday school etc with my grandparents. Neither of my parents are religious at all either but we were brought up that you don’t eat meat on Good Friday. Every year I have this battle with myself! It’s irrational I know and my teen DS has been laughing when I suggested we have fish today saying ‘but you don’t even believe in God!’ He’s right I know but it’s almost become a weird superstition to me now. I’m not even superstitious! Maybe just odd? Grin

OP posts:
ValleyoftheHorses · 19/04/2019 18:57

I haven’t had any meat today. About to go out for dinner but having the seafood platter.
I would though, I’m not religious.

noodlenosefraggle · 19/04/2019 18:58

I was raised Catholic. I don't go to church anymore, and I'd consider myself agnostic, but I just can't bring myself to get rid of the Good Friday thing. It feels like a serious day. I don't eat meat, we've had fish and chips today. I didn't even let the kids crack open an Easter egg! It's weird. I still look at the clock at 3.00 because that's when all Catholic Good Friday services started when I was a child. I haven't been to one for about 7 yearsHmm

Rockbird · 19/04/2019 19:03

No meat today. Fish and chips in a little while. I've never been able to stick to one meal and two collations though, I'm too piggy!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Jsmith99 · 19/04/2019 19:05

I’m a very ex-Catholic and make a point of always eating meat on good Friday to stick two fingers up to the church.

We had sausage sandwiches for brunch, and it’s steak for dinner.

ExpletiveDelighted · 19/04/2019 19:07

I read on another thread that you're not supposed to do laundry on Good Friday.

Squiff70 · 19/04/2019 19:10

Just had half a large meat feast from Dominos if that answers your question...?

OxanaVorontsova · 19/04/2019 19:13

I grew up in a vicarage and had never heard of not eating meat on Good Friday until I lived to the north east!

BillywigSting · 19/04/2019 19:14

Yes, but mostly as a stiff middle finger to the many horrible fish dinners I had to eat in my (Catholic) school.

Me and my (equally lapsed Catholic) dad had a tradition of eating rebellious bacon butties together on purpose for years.

It still feels a bit naughty though, not entirely sure why!

I still get a thrill walking past my local church on Ash Wednesday and not having to walk around with a black smudge on my forhead all day.

I have zero problem with anyone being religious or having faith, more power to them and it must be a great comfort. I do have issue with being herded into mass at 11/12/13/14/15/16 years old (also in school, school had a chapel) and being given a detention for washing the itchy ashes off my face.

BillywigSting · 19/04/2019 19:15

Yes, but mostly as a stiff middle finger to the many horrible fish dinners I had to eat in my (Catholic) school.

Me and my (equally lapsed Catholic) dad had a tradition of eating rebellious bacon butties together on purpose for years.

It still feels a bit naughty though, not entirely sure why!

I still get a thrill walking past my local church on Ash Wednesday and not having to walk around with a black smudge on my forhead all day.

I have zero problem with anyone being religious or having faith, more power to them and it must be a great comfort. I do have issue with being herded into mass at 11/12/13/14/15/16 years old (also in school, school had a chapel) and being given a detention for washing the itchy ashes off my face.

BillywigSting · 19/04/2019 19:16

Cross post with @Jsmith99

I usually describe myself as vehemently lapsed!

PepsiLola · 19/04/2019 19:18

I didn't even think about the date and had a bbq in the sun 🙈 I'm not religious but my parents always did good Friday fish

AnneElliott · 19/04/2019 19:20

Not when we see MIL (Catholic) but otherwise yes. DS no longer follows the rules. MIL doesn't rag meat any Friday though.

When DH and I were dating, my parents invited him over and MIL sent him with his own fish!

NicksWife08 · 19/04/2019 19:22

I'm technically Jewish and my DH is technically Muslim. He briefly became a Catholic in his much younger days. Tonight we had beef burgers with bacon in, whatever way we look at it we're off to hell!

dontcallmelen · 19/04/2019 19:27

noodle I’m the same & still look at the clock at 3pm, we always have fish on Fridays though a hangover I think from school/home when I was a child.

SrSteveOskowski · 19/04/2019 19:27

Yes I do, and Ash Wednesday too. I'm a very lapsed Catholic. As in, I was brought up Catholic (Irish in Ireland) but I don't believe in any of it anymore.

Prokupatuscrakedatus · 19/04/2019 19:28

No - but I am catholic and I've been keeping lent as I've done for the last 42 years (we start at fourteen, well where I am anyway).

WiltedDaffs · 19/04/2019 19:28

In my house it’s always chicken curry on Fridays. So I’m sticking with that. I’m Christian (CofE), though wasn’t raised as such....so yes, eating meat (though I’m not having the booze I’d normally have with it!)

x2boys · 19/04/2019 19:29

I was raised as a Catholic and also consider myself agnostic, I don't eat meat on Good Friday if I remember I shouldnt, but had bacon butties s for breakfast and chilli for tea ,ah well.it

happyhillock · 19/04/2019 19:32

Yes i'm not religious, my neighbour's are and have fish every Friday

Raera · 19/04/2019 19:32

Yes, we refrain from meat every Friday (unless Christmas day falls on a Friday and then it's allowed. Ash Wednesday similarly no meat.
Yes we are Catholic but the washing has just come in from the line!

Medicaltextbook · 19/04/2019 19:34

No. I’m a catholic, but the spirit of it I should probably be vegetarian on Good Friday as having home made fish curry is more of a treat than meat.

DramaLlama32 · 19/04/2019 19:35

MrsTerryPratchett

Why do you have to be so negative? If you don't believe in it that's fine, but don't put other people down if they do!

Yes I only eat fish on good Friday as it's always been something we did growing up

NanooCov · 19/04/2019 19:46

We just had paella. Chicken, chorizo and prawns. I'm not religious.

TrixieFranklin · 19/04/2019 19:47

No, I'm a vegetarian.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 19/04/2019 19:47

I’ve never heard of boy eating meat.
But then I’m veggie. But I did work for the church for a few years... is it regional?