Why do we eat fish at Christmas?

Although experts say that fish consumption in Hungary is increasing year on year, everyone is probably already blown away by the statistics that Hungarians are regularly confronted with around Christmas, namely that a large percentage of our fish consumption is linked to Christmas and is concentrated around this end-of-year holiday.

On the one hand, this is a sad fact, as our rivers and lakes abound in high-quality raw materials, but on the other hand, it is a joy in the void that we really do consume huge quantities of fish during this period, even if we do not make up for the shortfall in the middle of the year, as we consume an average of 2-3 kilos of fish per year, while the European Union average is around 2.5 kg.

But why is it important to eat more fish?

The simple answer to the above question is that eating fish meat is very healthy and beneficial for the human body in many ways. Why? First of all, because it is low in cholesterol, but high in phosphorus, iodine, fluorine, selenium, iron, potassium and calcium, and very rich in vitamins A, D, B2, B6 and B12. In addition to the above, it also contains high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, which significantly reduce the risk of heart disease, especially heart attack. Statistics show in black and white that countries with a high fish consumption have a much lower incidence of heart disease.

It is therefore important to eat as much fish as possible from childhood to old age, as it is a very effective preventive measure against dementia, breast cancer and eye diseases.

Why eat fish at Christmas?

But why eat fish at Christmas? Of course, we don't have to go too far to find the answer to this question, as it is based on a kind of belief. It is important to note that Hungarian folklore has always attached great importance to the Christmas festivities and the beliefs that are associated with them. For example, the scattering of Christmas crumbs at the base of trees to ensure a plentiful fruit harvest, or the taking of wheat from the tablecloth used at Christmas, also in the hope of a good harvest in the following year. In many places, fishermen put their nets under the Christmas table to ensure a good catch, and we could go on and on with customs like this and similar ones from one region to another. To put it simply, the consumption of fish at Christmas, like the lentils eaten at New Year, symbolised abundance, the scales of the fish symbolizing plenty of money and its rapid movement symbolising progress.

However, it is not only in Hungary that fish consumption increases so significantly at Christmas, as in Finland, for example, salmon is put on the table during this period, while in Sweden it is carp marinated in butter and onion, and in Poland fish soup is one of the most important and unmissable elements of the 12-course Christmas dinner.

KIOSK recommends

In summary, whether it is Christmas or any other day of the week, it is worth eating as much fish as possible. Not to mention that, fortunately, there are already plenty of fish species available in shops and markets for this purpose, whether freshwater or marine. In Hungary, fish cooked in paprika and flour, a good chowder or a skimmed version of it, and fried fish are the main dishes on the top of the imaginary, especially Christmas, lists, but it is also worth thinking about preparing a crab carp, a steamed fish or even a grilled fish. This time, from KIOSK's autumn-winter menu, we offer you grilled cod, served with cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, capers and buttermilk sauce.