Comments on: Cecil’s Fast and Elizabeth I’s Navy

By: lisaannejane

lisaannejane — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:11:19 +0000

When I was in grade school (the sixties) I remember Friday was always fish stick day. There was a fast food place called H Salt Fish N Chips and my mom would often go there, although not always on Friday and bring it home as a treat. I was suppose to be raised a Catholic, but to tell the truth I never really paid any attention to mass and thought about how I wanted to go shopping instead.

By: Claire

Claire — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:28:28 +0000

My Mum always goes mad if I even consider eating red meat on Good Friday and for my grandparents Friday was always fish day even though they were non-conformists. It is interesting where these traditions spring from.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 12:14:34 +0000

Thanks for the info about fish. My family were non-practicising Anglicans but in my youth it was always fish on friday and during Lent as well. . But to know the reason behind this after the move to Protestanism is ectremely interesting. Thanks once again Claire. You are continually adding to my sources of info.

By: Jill

Jill — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:59:03 +0000

If you live long enough you realize that food, any kind of food, is necessary for survival. Look at the Irish Potato Famine. The British exported everything and I mean EVERYTHING except potatos which were a staple for the Irish people. What happened with that was a blighted crop from the US that was sent over there. Imagine what people had to go through to eat a rotted crop, only to find other means of nutrition like the ones at sea who could depend upon seaweed, fish at the coat. If you ever wonder why things are passed down as recipes throughout history look at the history. That will tell you everything you need to know. It was the one thing that gave them energy and allowed them to keep on going. Anything else meant death by hanging at the scaffolds or transport to Australia. So if kippers (red herring) meant an economic boon to the English then so be it. Oranges were a luxury as they were a few short decades ago, because they meant the prevent of scurvy as I remember my father telling me that you were lucky if you got an orange for christmas. Another remedy for pestilence for the seagoing person.. We always ask why but never get any answers.

By: rochie

rochie — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:45:52 +0000

That’s really fascinating. But I wonder if Cecil practised what he preached and eat all that fish, too?