What are the 7 fishes for Italian Christmas Eve?

This pasta involves seven fish: clams, mussels, halibut, shrimp, anchovy, calamari and scallops. It’s nice to have a whole fish, head and tail included, to signify abundance.

Why do the Italians eat fish on Christmas Eve?

The Feast of the Seven Fishes, or “Festa dei Sette Pesci”, is a Christmas Eve tradition in many Italian households. Most popular in Southern Italy and in Italian-American homes, this Christmas Eve feast stems from Catholics abstaining from meat in commemoration of waiting for the birth of baby Jesus.

What is the traditional Christmas Eve Italian dinner?

In Italy, Christmas Eve dinner is traditionally lighter with no meat and a lot of seafood, while the Italian-American meal has evolved into much more of a feast. Bring on the sword fish, tuna, salmon, octopus salad, smelts, calamari, spaghetti with clam sauce and the famous Italian classic—salted cod, known as baccalà.

What is the 7 fishes tradition?

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is the annual Christmas Eve vigil and epic seafood feast that has grown into the most beloved meal of the year in Italian-American households. Steeped in tradition, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is the centerpiece meal of the entire holiday season.

What does 7 fishes represent?

Today, the meal typically consists of seven different seafood dishes. The tradition comes from Southern Italy, where it is known as The Vigil (La Vigilia). This celebration commemorates the wait, the Vigilia di Natale, for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus.

What does the 7 fish dinner represent?

Origins and tradition Today, the meal typically consists of seven different seafood dishes. The tradition comes from Southern Italy, where it is known as The Vigil (La Vigilia). This celebration commemorates the wait, the Vigilia di Natale, for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus.

What is the 7 fish Italian tradition?

What do I serve for the Feast of the Seven Fishes?

You’ll find delicious versions of baccalà, clams casino, shrimp pasta, fried squid, bagna cauda, a variety of seafood stews, and more. They’re all perfect for this traditional Italian-American feast that’s served on Christmas Eve and features seven (or more) fish dishes.

What are traditional 7 fishes?

Typical “fishes” include baccalà (salt cod), frutti di mare (shellfish), capitone (eel), calamari (squid), scungilli (conch meat) and vongole (clams). Fried vegetables are also a popular accompaniment to the fish; expect fried artichokes, pickled vegetables, fried squash blossoms, and other treats.

What are some Christmas foods in Italy?

What are the Most Popular Traditional Italian Foods for Christmas?

• Pasta – especially ravioli, tortellini, lasagne;
• Chocolate – chocolate-covered fruits, chocolate bonbons or truffles;
• Meat – veal and lamb;
• Vegetables;
• Cake – panettone, pandoro and panforte most famously;
• Coffee – it’s Italy after all!