After Christmas, Holy Week is the time with the most widespread traditions when it comes to food. Spinach on Maundy Thursday and fish on Good Friday are still common in many households — more common in some regions than others, a study shows. According to this, food is very important for almost every second Austrian.
In this regard, Christmas is the most traditional time in Austrian households, followed by Easter on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. According to a study commissioned by igloo, spinach on Maundy Thursday is a must for three in ten Austrians. Another quarter don’t always stick to it, but usually they do.
The Styrians are especially fond of spinach
The inhabitants of Styria, Lower Austria and Burgenland are especially fond of spinach, followed by the Carinthians. Unsurprisingly, about half of the annual igloo spinach sold is sold before Easter, and a total of 3,650 tons of spinach was harvested for igloo alone in 2021, according to a broadcast.
The most popular is creamed spinach. Along with fried eggs and potatoes, it is the most common dish on local dishes on Maundy Thursday. And that, although the day has nothing to do with the color green. In fact, the term goes back to the Old High German term “grunen”, which means “to mourn” or “to cry”.
Fish is especially popular in Carinthia
The tradition of eating fish on Good Friday is still rife in some household. Just over a fifth (22 percent) strictly adhere to it, and another 30 percent usually, but not always, the survey found. Serving a fish dish is more common among the elderly, i.e. among the 60- to 69-year-olds (29 percent). Also in Carinthia, fish is served with an above-average frequency: every third person in southern Austria holds on to this tradition.
According to the research, traditional dishes are generally more popular with women than with men. A third of Austrian women always eat spinach on Maundy Thursday, compared to just a quarter of men. Fish on Good Friday is a staple for a quarter of women, but only a little less than a fifth of men.
Note: For the igloo trend study, Integral Market and Opinion Survey polled 1000 Austrians between 18 and 69 years old online in March 2021 for igloo Austria, representative of this target group.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
