An Italian - American Christmas Eve: Feast of the Seven Fishes

12/1/2022

As a kid, I had no idea that eating seafood on La Vigilia (Christmas Eve) was an Italian -American tradition known as “The Feast of the Seven Fishes”; I just thought people everywhere ate a seafood bonanza the night before Christmas. I lived (quite a sheltered life, apparently) in an Italian neighborhood, so I really had no reason to think otherwise. It wasn’t until I was a teenager and got to junior high school did I realize that there was a whole other world out there, full of people who ate fancy roast beef dinners, dined in restaurants or (gasp!) just ate a regular ol' meal for Christmas Eve. But not in our house, oh no: My nana would spend all day cooking and preparing a literal feast of fishes: shrimp, scallops, calamari (squid), bacala (salt cod) and clams oreganata, along with a pound of macaroni, usually vermicelli. Not quite seven fishes, but close enough.

An Italian - American Christmas Eve: Feast Of The Seven Fishes (A Collection Of Delicious Seafood Recipes)

What Is The Feast Of The Seven Fishes?

According to Chef Mario Batali, "It's what Italians do when they say they're fasting." (I’m sorry, did he just say “Italians” and “fasting” in the same sentence???). I guess it’s true to some extent: In the southern region of Italy (where my family is from), the day is spent not eating much in anticipation of the “feast”, and traditionally no meat is ever eaten that day. In keeping with tradition, we don't eat much but a tuna sandwich or grilled cheese for lunch.

"No one's quite sure of the significance of the number," says Batali. "Some families do seven for the sacraments. Some do ten for the stations of the cross. And some even do 13 for the 12 apostles, plus Jesus." I’ve also heard that some believe that The Feast of Seven Fishes represent the seven days of creation and others believe it represents Mary and Joseph’s seven day travel to Bethlehem. But honestly, do Italians ever really need a reason to mangia?

A Very Italian Christmas: The Greatest Italian Holiday Stories of All Time, amazon.com

Feast of the Seven Fishes: 40 Authentic Italian Recipes for a Christmas Eve Tradition, amazon.com

The Tradition Continues

As time went on and I got married and had a family of my own, I kept up with the La Vigilia tradition but I've broadened my culinary horizons quite a bit. My grandmother fried those shrimp and scallops and put the squid in her g̶r̶a̶v̶y̶ sauce because that’s what everybody liked. Now I change things up here and there and love try new seafood and recipes.

Here’s what’s on my menu this Christmas Eve. As you can see, I'm not making seven fishes this year, especially with a picky eater in the house. So Feast of the Four Fishes it is, folks, and I promise you it will be just as good. I hope you’ll give these recipes a try. They are delish, full of flavor and couldn't be any simpler to prepare.

Oh and before I forget! Una cena senza vino e come un giorno senza sole! That means "a day without wine is a day without sunshine". I'd suggest pairing these dishes with a good white wine or chardonnay: Belfiore Chardonnay Trevenezie I.G.T. or Cantina Di Solopaca Fiano would be perfecto!

Buon Appetito!

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