Who said you had to eat fish on Good Friday?

Answer 1

Catholic AnswerFriday abstinence, as explained by Fr. Hardon below, has been a custom of all Christians in commemoration of Christ's passion and death of the cross from the very beginning. In other words, originally no "one" said you shouldn't eat meat on Friday (especially Good Friday) is was just a common penance accepted by all Christians as part of their spiritual life. However, since the first centuries have passed into history and the Church is worldwide, the Popes and the individual bishops have legislated specific practices to be observed on all Fridays and Good Friday in particular. This does not mean that this is all you have to do, like the early Christians, we may still do individual penances which are not legislated, although it would be a good thing to check with your confessor before taking on more penances.

from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980

Friday Abstinence. Refraining from meat on Friday in commemoration of Christ's passion and death. The custom was prevalent among Christians from the first century. It was extended to Saturday in the West at an early date. Until the apostolic constitution of Paul VI in 1966, all Fridays were obligatory days of abstinence for the whole Church, with the exception of certain territories that were exempt from the obligation. Since 1966, however obligatory abstinence for the universal Church applies only to Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent. To the law of abstinence are bound all who have completed their fourteenth year of age. The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not eggs, the products of milk, or condiments made of animal fat. The abolition of Friday abstinence is a common misapprehension. Friday abstinence was not abolished; rather the faithful now have a choice either to abstain from meat or perform some other kind of penance on Fridays [outside of Lent]. According to the Church's law, the "substantial observance" of Fridays as days of penance, whether by abstinence or in other ways, "is a grave obligation" (Paenitemini, Norm 11, 2)

Answer 2

No, it doesn't say to eat fish on Good Friday. It also doesn't say to celebrate Christmas, or Easter. It doesn't say to have bible study, it doesn't say to form youth groups, AND it doesn't say that The Bible itself is the sole means of faith. In fact in 1 Timothy 3:15 we read that the church is the pillar and foundation of the truth. Just because something is not stated directly in the Bible doesn't mean it goes against God's word. Do you really think we shouldn't celebrate Easter or Christmas just because it doesn't say to in the Bible? Of course not. Do you HAVE to not eat meat on good friday? Of course not. However, for those who do, they are perfectly justified in doing so.

Answer 3

There is no tradition of eating fish on Good Friday. There is a tradition of not eating meat on Good Friday.