Have you ever wondered why Greeks eat cod on the Greek Day of Independence?

The Lenten Period is the longest and most strict fast of the Orthodox church. It lasts from Clean Monday all the way to Easter and is broken thrice, giving believers a chance to recover their strength as it is a rather difficult fasting period.

The first of these breaks is on the Annuation of the Virgin Mary, which is celebrated on March 25th. On that day, the consumption of oil, wine and fish is permitted. Which is why we eat cod on March 25th.

The choice of salted cod was made by our ancestors, since they lived close to the shore and had fresh fish to their disposal. Those who lived inland struggled to procure fresh fish as there were also no fridges to maintain them in.

It is said that cod was first consumed during the 15th century. Quickly, it became the national dish of March 25th, becoming a cheap and easy solution — a tradition that endures to this day. Regardless of surrounding conditions, believers new that they could find salted cod even in the smallest markets.

As years went by, it’s become habit to eat cod on March 25th since it is also a great match with the traditional Greek spread ‘skordalia’.