Fish Fries A State Tradition
People Often Gather Every Friday For Fish Fries
Updated: 8:27 am CDT September 6, 2008
MADISON, Wis. -- Friday nights are synonymous with fish fries in Wisconsin.
VIDEO: Watch The ReportRestaurants are dipping cod and other favorites into the grease all year long.On any given Friday in Wisconsin, one can find people waiting at their favorite restaurant, or supper club for fish.The Fiskers have been enjoying fish fries for 30 or 40 years."I think you just look forward to Friday nights -- joining friends and going to have fish," said Donna Fisker.Mike Bie has traveled the state and knows his way around fish fries.People can even find mentions in his book, "Classic Wisconsin." "It's just a huge part of Wisconsin's culture," said Bie."It's really not as much about the fish as it is about the tradition -- about getting together with family and friends at a cozy supper club, talking smart about Packers and Badgers and in general, celebrating the fact that we're not Illinois," said Bie.Janet Gilmore, a University of Wisconsin folklorist, has studied Wisconsin's fish fry tradition."What we really have is different cultural traditions that have been merged together to influence and form what is our fish fry," said Gilmore.Gilmore said the tradition stems from Catholic religious beliefs, of meat-less Fridays.But there's more to just that -- including German ancestors, who had a tradition of gathering family and friends on Friday nights. Also, there was an extensive marketing effort during prohibition, offering free fish to keep people coming to taverns, WISC-TV reported.Gilmore said all that combined, including easy access to fish, has formed a perfect recipe for today's modern-day fish fry."Fish fries really are one of the cornerstones of our state culture," said Bie. "Take away the Wisconsin fish fry, and we're that much closer to becoming Illinois and that's just a thought that's too awful to think about.""Good Question" is a regular segment you'll see on WISC-TV. If you have a question, ask reporter Marc Lovicott at goodquestion@channel3000.com.Visit the "Good Question" blog by clicking here
VIDEO: Watch The ReportRestaurants are dipping cod and other favorites into the grease all year long.On any given Friday in Wisconsin, one can find people waiting at their favorite restaurant, or supper club for fish.The Fiskers have been enjoying fish fries for 30 or 40 years."I think you just look forward to Friday nights -- joining friends and going to have fish," said Donna Fisker.Mike Bie has traveled the state and knows his way around fish fries.People can even find mentions in his book, "Classic Wisconsin." "It's just a huge part of Wisconsin's culture," said Bie."It's really not as much about the fish as it is about the tradition -- about getting together with family and friends at a cozy supper club, talking smart about Packers and Badgers and in general, celebrating the fact that we're not Illinois," said Bie.Janet Gilmore, a University of Wisconsin folklorist, has studied Wisconsin's fish fry tradition."What we really have is different cultural traditions that have been merged together to influence and form what is our fish fry," said Gilmore.Gilmore said the tradition stems from Catholic religious beliefs, of meat-less Fridays.But there's more to just that -- including German ancestors, who had a tradition of gathering family and friends on Friday nights. Also, there was an extensive marketing effort during prohibition, offering free fish to keep people coming to taverns, WISC-TV reported.Gilmore said all that combined, including easy access to fish, has formed a perfect recipe for today's modern-day fish fry."Fish fries really are one of the cornerstones of our state culture," said Bie. "Take away the Wisconsin fish fry, and we're that much closer to becoming Illinois and that's just a thought that's too awful to think about.""Good Question" is a regular segment you'll see on WISC-TV. If you have a question, ask reporter Marc Lovicott at goodquestion@channel3000.com.Visit the "Good Question" blog by clicking hereCopyright 2008 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
