Source: Atlas Obscura
When the Europeans arrived in North America, two of their primary objectives were to collect as many beaver pelts as possible, and to convert the native population to Catholicism.
The locals liked to eat the beaver meat, which was convenient for the Europeans, who cared only for the skin.
The newcomers changed their tune, however, during the Catholic season of Lent. On Fridays throughout this stretch leading up to Easter, the faithful are forbidden from eating meat, specifically land-dwelling animals. To accommodate new converts (and probably meat-loving Europeans), they turned to…