Everyone has their own Christmas traditions—especially when it comes to the food. Some people cook up a Christmas ham as the main course, while others (like Ree Drummond) focus on making a show-stopping prime rib. But if you're Italian-American, you might recognize the time-honored tradition of making a Feast of the Seven Fishes!
But what exactly is this big, elaborate meal? The Italian Christmas dinner is celebrated with not one, not two, but—you guessed it—seven different fish courses. Read on for more on how can you host the fish-centric meal in your own home.
But first, we're taking a deep dive into the history behind the Feast of the Seven Fishes and how it got its Italian-American roots. It all stems from the Roman Catholic Church where it’s customary to eat fish (and abstain from meat) on the eve of feast days. But here's the thing, you don’t need to be Italian to make your own Feast of the Seven Fishes. Anyone can participate in the tradition by adding seafood to their Christmas Eve dinner menu. Read on for everything you need to know about this holiday feast, including tips, recipes, and more!
Where did the Feast of the Seven Fishes originate?
The origins are a bit murky: It's thought to have started in Sicily, where fish is abundant. Along with the custom of avoiding meat before a holy holiday, this special dinner (also known as La Vigilia) became popular in the United States when many southern Italians were immigrating to the U.S. during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Do they celebrate the seven fishes in Italy?
While many people in Italy enjoy a big meatless Christmas Eve dinner, the feast of the seven fishes is mostly an American tradition. In fact, many Italians have never even heard of the feast!
Of course, anyone who loves seafood can try it out! Simply, pick and choose a few of the recipes below to add to your holiday table.
What is the significance of the Feast of the Seven Fishes?
There's no real consensus on what the seven fishes signify—some people claim the number seven symbolizes the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church while others say it's meant to represent the seven days of the week or the seven hills of Rome. In fact, there are even families who choose to go all out with 12 fishes (in honor of the 12 apostles). Either way, the tradition of preparing a feast of the sea was considered a way for Italian-American immigrants to reconnect to their home country.
In deciding which fishes are served, that's really up to you! Some of the most traditional dishes include stuffed clams, cold seafood salads, shrimp scampi, stuffed calamari, fritto misto (fried seafood and vegetables), mussels marinara, baccalà (salt cod) and many more!
How do you prepare a Feast of the Seven Fishes?
So, you want to prepare a Feast of the Seven Fishes this year. We applaud you! Whether or not you grew up eating fish on Christmas Eve, your family will surely be impressed that you gave it a try! Luckily, there are no set rules for which types of fish to serve so the menu can vary depending on your preferences. If you want to include seven different fishes, we suggest spreading it out throughout the feast—from Christmas appetizers to main courses. You can also sprinkle in some non-fish dishes, like vegetable sides. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Appetizers
Shrimp Dip
Crab-Stuffed Mushrooms
Shrimp co*cktail
Smoked Salmon Dip
Lemony Garlic Shrimp
Soups and Salads
Lobster Bisque
Clam Chowder
Fish and Chips Salad
Main Courses
Surf and Turf
Baked Salmon
Grilled Lobster Tails
Seared Scallops
Foil-Packet Shrimp Pasta
Sheet Pan Salmon Puttanesca
Sea Bass with Lemon-Garlic Butter
Side Dishes
Creamed Spinach
Herb Focaccia
Stuffed Artichokes with Anchovy
Slow Cooker Green Beans
Parmesan Steak Fries
Eggplant Caponata
What do you serve for dessert during the Feast of the Seven Fishes?
If you still have room for a Christmas dessert after a feast like this, something light consisting of Italian classics is your best option. Try a platter of Italian Christmas cookies and biscotti. Or opt for a scoop of gelato to finish off the meal. Another classic dessert: panettone (a festive Italian Christmas bread).
FAQs
The key to committing to cook seven different kinds of seafood is spreading out the dishes throughout the meal; instead of preparing seven whole fish for what would be an excessively large main course spread, offer perhaps three small appetizers, a soup, pasta, then entrée plus a side salad, each with seafood as the ...
What are the original 7 fishes Christmas Eve? ›
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 is the meaning of the seven fishes? ›
There's no real consensus on what the seven fishes signify—some people claim the number seven symbolizes the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church while others say it's meant to represent the seven days of the week or the seven hills of Rome.
Why do Catholics eat 7 fishes? ›
Origins and tradition
This celebration commemorates the wait, the Vigilia di Natale, for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus. The long tradition of eating seafood on Christmas Eve dates from the Roman Catholic tradition of abstaining from eating meat on the eve of a feast day.
What are the seven fishes Bible? ›
The significance of the seven fishes has a number of symbolic representations: the number of sacraments, the seven days of creation, the seven virtues, the seven deadly sins and the seven days it took Mary and Joseph to reach Bethlehem before baby Jesus was born.
Is Feast of the Seven Fishes real? ›
Although it is unclear when the dinner became so popular, this celebration is considered one of the most Italian traditions. Typically, the family gathers around a feast of seven different seafood dishes or one or two different types of fish prepared in seven different ways.
What is the night of the seven fishes? ›
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian-American tradition to ring in Christmas Eve, when Roman Catholics celebrate the midnight birth of Jesus, known in Italian as “La Viglia.” Fish is a traditional ingredient in the Christmas Eve dinner because custom calls for the eschewing of red meat leading up to the holiday.
Can Catholics eat meat on Christmas Eve? ›
While most believe it to be a religious obligation, giving up meat on Christmas Eve is actually more a popular custom. The Catholic Church specifies the days on which meat is to be avoided (seafood doesn't count as meat), but it doesn't include the day before Christmas (unless it falls on a Friday).
What is the biblical symbolism of fish? ›
Basically, the fish represents the phrase of “Jesus Christ God's Son is Savior.” Some research has suggested that the fish symbol emerged in the first century or even before Jesus died on the cross, but nothing has been confirmed as to when the symbol and its meaning first began.
Where is the feast of the seven fishes set? ›
(WBOY) — It's been four years since “Feast of the Seven Fishes, a film made by Marion County native Robert Tinnell, was released. He made the film with the goal of capturing what was special about the Italian American Christmases he had in West Virginia during his youth.
The poem celebrates the power and beauty of nature while also examining the ways that, to a human being, an animal can at once seem totally alien and deeply familiar. Get the entire guide to “The Fish” as a printable PDF.
What do Italians call the Feast of the Seven Fishes? ›
Festa dei Sette Pesci (The Feast of Seven Fishes)
What do Italians eat on Christmas Eve? ›
Italian Christmas Eve - Feast of the Seven Fishes
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. The Feast of the Seven Fishes can also include other meatless dishes, which vary by region.
Is there a movie called Feast of the Seven Fishes? ›
Feast of the Seven Fishes is a 2018 American comedy film written and directed by Robert Tinnell and starring Skyler Gisondo, Madison Iseman, Jessica Darrow, Addison Timlin, Josh Helman, Joe Pantoliano, Paul Ben-Victor, and Ray Abruzzo.
What religion is the Feast of the Seven Fishes? ›
The feast of the seven fishes is based on ancient Catholic tradition. Learn how to celebrate this Christmas Eve banquet. For centuries, Catholics fasted before important holy days, including Christmas Day. They held "vigil" from sunset to sunrise, symbolically awaiting the holy event to come.
What is the meaning of the seven fishes in the bear? ›
Later, when Stevie (John Mulaney) says grace under duress, he surmises that it represents taking time out to prepare seven carefully crafted dishes to “show them that we love them.” Everyone is wrong — the concept of the fishes actually represents the vigil, or the long wait for the baby Jesus, in addition to the fact ...
What dessert is served after the Feast of the Seven Fishes? ›
Zuppa inglese a great choice for dessert when preparing a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner celebrating the Feast of the Seven Fishes (or nine or thirteen, whichever you celebrate).
