Feast of the Seven Fishes: History Of Eating Fish On Christmas Eve
Feast of the Seven Fishes: History Of Eating Fish On Christmas Eve
One of the most joyful times of the year is slowly approaching, and we can feel it in the air. Can you feel it? It's a blessed time when we gather with our family to celebrate and enjoy our time together. Christmas time is a perfect opportunity to be with the people that mean to you, to hang out with them, create new memories, and to eat delicious food.
This season brings a lot of traditions, some of them well-known, while others not so much. Every family has traditions and special little rituals, while certain groups of people share traditions with each other.
Today we will discuss a unique custom that's not that common. It's a tradition of eating a seafood dinner on Christmas Eve. So, if you ever wondered why do people eat fish on Christmas Eve, now you'll learn everything about it.
Fish on Christmas Eve – The Story Behind It
Even if eating fish the night before Christmas seems strange, it's a big part of many religious traditions worldwide. Today we will talk about the one that originated in Italy and has become an adored custom of many Italian Americans. It's known as the Feast of the Seven Fishes, and it's still celebrated among many Italian American households.The Feast of the Seven Fishes
This event originates from the Catholic belief that you should avoid eating meat on Holy days. And the most important Holy day is Christmas Eve, so it's logical to eat fish on Christmas Eve instead of meat. The Feast of the Seven Fishes is the name used in the U.S., and The Vigil is the name given to the tradition that originated in Southern Italy (La Vigilia). This event honors the period of anticipation leading up to the midnight birth of Jesus, known as the Nativity Vigil.Who Eats Seafood Dinner for Christmas Eve
The Feast of the Seven Fishes tradition was invented in Italy, but interestingly, only a few Italians practice it. Today it's only celebrated in the south of Italy and Sicily as La Vigilia. But the custom is present in most English-speaking territories where Italians live. This custom asks you to eat seven fishes for dinner on Christmas Eve, and later on, we will talk more in-depth about why.Fish on Christmas Eve - Why Do People Eat Fish On Christmas Eve
Eating fish the night before Christmas is a custom both Orthodox and Catholic Christians have; however, we will focus on the Catholic tradition as it relates to the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Avoiding meat and other animal products such as dairy and eggs is a standard custom for Catholics during Holy days and Fridays. For Christians, one of the most important Holy days is Christmas Eve, so for many Catholics, eating fish was expected, as they were abstaining from meat and all animal products. This tradition also has a lot of logic behind it when you think about where it originated. In the south of Italy, as well as in Sicily, there's plenty of fish. And you can only imagine the types of fish they have, an abundant selection perfect for making the best seafood dinner. Don't think that the dishes were simple and that they were only eating fish, that's plain. The seafood dinners were, in fact, feasts featuring many fish dishes and delicious sides. Some of the dishes that you can find today on a Feast of the Seven Fishes spread:- Fried Calamari
- Fried cod
- Fried Shrimp
- Deep fried scallops
- Marinated eel
- Cod Fish Balls
- Baccala with pasta
- Clams casino
- Seafood salad
- Octopus salad
- Puttanesca with anchovies
- Stuffed-baked lobster
- Stuffed calamari