Eating fish on Good Friday may be a more affordable option for both traditional Catholics and non-Catholics this year. The tip comes from the director of the São Pedro Market Trader Association Atílio Guglielmo. São Pedro is one of the main fish markets in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro, and it has recorded an increase in sales for Holy Week.
“The price of fish today is well below that of first-class and even second-class meat. So, we expect a very good turnover for the week. The previous week, which gives an idea of how the business will go, was very busy with customers who usually come earlier to buy products for Holy Week”, said Guglielmo.
According to the government’s statistics institute IBGE, in March the food and beverage group was responsible for 20.89 percent of inflation measured by the Broad National Consumer Price Index (IPCA in the original Portuguese acronym). Meat prices have risen 0.33 percent last month.
The association´s director said the fish supply, despite being in low season, is enough to meet demand, even with a closed shrimp season, when it is prohibited to fish this product in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo.
Tradition
On Good Friday (April 15), the Roman Catholic Church carries out ceremonies to remember Christ's suffering on the streets of Jerusalem, his crucifixion, and death. Traditional Catholics usually dedicate this day to prayer and abstinence and avoid eating meat. Thus, it became a tradition in Brazil - considered the largest Catholic country in the world, to eat fish during Holy Week.
