Fishes, Figollas and the Bible

These past few days I was busy trying to bake and decorate my Easter figollas for the second year in a row! I believe in the saying "practise makes perfect" … and in fact this year’s figollas have improved in presentation … they actually look like little fishes covered with chocolate not sharks like last year’s! I guess the taste is good as well since I mixed only delicious yummy good things ;)

taken by Caska on 25 March 2005

While we were busy mixing the ingredients, my sister started this interesting conversation about why last year I chose to buy the fish pattern for the figolla. She thought there was some highly intellectual biblical meaning behind it all … but to say the truth, I just chose that pattern because it was cute and simple. I didn’t get a lamb or rabbit pattern so that I won’t have to go through the trouble of people trying to guess what animal it is!

So I have been trying all morning to find a reasonable explanation of the importance or symbolic meaning of the fish in the Bible. I have gone through lots of rabbi speeches and other biblical sources and finally I think I found what satisfied my curiosity:

… The fish has been an important symbol in Christianity since the early Church. The fish symbol is based on the Greek word, ichthus, which means fish, and is an acronym in Greek for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour."
Taken from: http://www.bf.org/fish.htm

As usual, my interest in the explanation of dreams led me also to find the meaning of dreaming about fish! :

To see fish swimming freely in clear water is an omen of wealth and personal power. If you were fishing in clear water and could see the fish bite, it indicates that you will discover or acquire some knowledge which can be used very advantageously. Dead fish either in their natural habitat or in a market are an omen of disappointment or discouragement. To dream of catching a fish is an augury of success, and the bigger the fish the bigger the success; and if you saw a fish moving its fins, you can expect to be freed of any worrying responsibilities. If your dream featured carp, it is a warning against subjecting yourself to criticism by ill-considered actions. Eating or cooking fish (except carp) is considered a general good omen for your current undertakings. If your dream involved a fishnet, it means reverses if the net was empty, success if it was full, and disappointment if it was torn, unless it was torn but still had fish in it, in which case it signifies success of a limited nature. Tropical or goldfish in tanks, bowls, or pools indicate ephemeral pleasures. Baiting a fishhook in a dream is a prediction of a passionate new love affair--and if you're not eligible, it will be someone close enough to share the excitement with you; but to get a fishhook stuck in any part of the body is a warning against deceitful acquaintances. To dream of seeing a variety of food fish (live) of rather uncommon species, such as salmon, trout, etc., indicates an increase in social activity and prestige. A dream of trying to hold a fish which wriggles out of your grasp has the obvious meaning, and you must be prepared to lower your sights or find a new liaison. Oddly enough, really rotten fish are an exception to the dead fish rule and are a sign of a sudden large increase in income.
taken from http://www.swoon.com

I hope to see fish swimming freely in clear water or catching them in my dreams … meanwhile I will enjoy my cute figolla fishes!! ;) Happy Easter!!!