Spotlight Series: All About the Feast of the Seven Fishes

Feast of the Seven Fishes is a cherished celebration of family, food, and enjoying the finer things in life together. Originating from Southern Italy and embraced widely among Italian-American families, this festive event occurs on Christmas Eve, known as "La Vigilia." The feast, as the name suggests, involves serving seven different types of seafood, each dish crafted with love and care. The number seven can symbolize many things - the seven sacraments, the seven hills of Rome, or simply a lucky number in Italian culture. The Christmas Eve feast-style meal features seven or more seafood preparations served up as courses that come in the form of soups, pasta dishes, appetizers and entrées.

Recipe: Linguine with Red Clam Sauce

What is the Feast of the Seven Fishes?

Feast of the Seven Fishes! This delightful tradition is a true culinary celebration that many Italian-American families enjoy during Christmas Eve. This feast, steeped in cultural heritage, is all about bringing family and friends together around a bountiful table laden with various seafood dishes.

Originating from Southern Italy, where it's known as "La Vigilia," this feast has evolved into a grand affair that showcases the richness of the sea. The "seven fishes" symbolically represent many things, including the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, among other interpretations.

During this festive gathering, you might find dishes ranging from simple fried calamari and sardines to luxurious seafood pasta, all the way to elaborate bakes like bacalao (salted cod fish). Each dish is prepared with love and care, often using recipes passed down through generations, making the feast not just a meal, but a cherished family tradition.

Recipe: The Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese

The Origin And Traditions Of The Feast Of The Seven Fishes

The Origins of the Feast:

The Feast of the Seven Fishes, known in Italian as "Festa dei sette pesci," is a meal that does not typically have any historical basis in Italy itself. Rather, it is a tradition that blossomed among Italian immigrants in the United States. The roots of this celebration are embedded in the Roman Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat on the eve of a feast day. Christmas Eve was a day of abstinence, and so, substituting fish became a tasty alternative.

The number seven is recurrent in the Bible and symbolizes completeness or perfection. Some suggest the number represents the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church or the seven hills of Rome. However, the number of fish dishes can vary based on family traditions—some prepare fewer, others more, but seven is the most popular figure.

Traditional Dishes:

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a showcase of maritime bounty. The menu might include a variety of dishes:

• Baccalà (salted cod fish) is a staple, often served fried or in a stew.

• Smelts, tiny fish fried to a perfect crisp.

• Calamari (squid), served fried or stuffed.

• Shrimp, cooked in various styles, from sautéed to baked with breadcrumbs.

• Scungilli (conch), typically served in a salad or a marinara sauce.

• Clams and mussels, steamed or tossed in pasta, are also popular choices.

In many families, the feast starts with light appetizers, followed by rich, saucy seafood pastas and ends with a main course featuring a variety of fish. The dishes are often accompanied by simple sides like sautéed greens or a fresh salad.

Modern Celebrations:

Today, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is a reason for families to come together and celebrate their heritage and the holiday season. It’s a fabulous feast that encourages community and conversation. Each family’s specific customs and recipes add a personal touch to the celebration, making each feast unique.

For those who celebrate, it’s an opportunity to honor their ancestors' traditions while making new memories. For those who are new to the feast, it’s an exciting way to delve into cultural traditions and sample some fantastic seafood.

So, whether you’re planning to host your own Feast of the Seven Fishes this year or just curious about this festive tradition, it’s all about celebrating with loved ones and enjoying the holiday spirit—one delicious fish dish at a time. Buon appetito and happy holidays!

A Feast of the Seven Fishes Menu

Each course in our Feast of Seven Fishes is designed to offer a unique taste of the ocean’s bounty. Enjoy the journey through these maritime flavors, and may your evening be as splendid as the feast itself!

What is the Feast of the Seven Fishes?

Feast of the Seven Fishes! This delightful tradition is a true culinary celebration that many Italian-American families enjoy during Christmas Eve. This feast, steeped in cultural heritage, is all about bringing family and friends together around a bountiful table laden with various seafood dishes.

Originating from Southern Italy, where it's known as "La Vigilia," this feast has evolved into a grand affair that showcases the richness of the sea. The "seven fishes" symbolically represent many things, including the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, among other interpretations.

During this festive gathering, you might find dishes ranging from simple fried calamari and sardines to luxurious seafood pasta, all the way to elaborate bakes like bacalao (salted cod fish). Each dish is prepared with love and care, often using recipes passed down through generations, making the feast not just a meal, but a cherished family tradition.

Recipe: The Ultimate Lobster Mac and Cheese

The Origin And Traditions Of The Feast Of The Seven Fishes

The Origins of the Feast:

The Feast of the Seven Fishes, known in Italian as "Festa dei sette pesci," is a meal that does not typically have any historical basis in Italy itself. Rather, it is a tradition that blossomed among Italian immigrants in the United States. The roots of this celebration are embedded in the Roman Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat on the eve of a feast day. Christmas Eve was a day of abstinence, and so, substituting fish became a tasty alternative.

The number seven is recurrent in the Bible and symbolizes completeness or perfection. Some suggest the number represents the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church or the seven hills of Rome. However, the number of fish dishes can vary based on family traditions—some prepare fewer, others more, but seven is the most popular figure.

Traditional Dishes:

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a showcase of maritime bounty. The menu might include a variety of dishes:

• Baccalà (salted cod fish) is a staple, often served fried or in a stew.

• Smelts, tiny fish fried to a perfect crisp.

• Calamari (squid), served fried or stuffed.

• Shrimp, cooked in various styles, from sautéed to baked with breadcrumbs.

• Scungilli (conch), typically served in a salad or a marinara sauce.

• Clams and mussels, steamed or tossed in pasta, are also popular choices.

In many families, the feast starts with light appetizers, followed by rich, saucy seafood pastas and ends with a main course featuring a variety of fish. The dishes are often accompanied by simple sides like sautéed greens or a fresh salad.

Modern Celebrations:

Today, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is a reason for families to come together and celebrate their heritage and the holiday season. It’s a fabulous feast that encourages community and conversation. Each family’s specific customs and recipes add a personal touch to the celebration, making each feast unique.

For those who celebrate, it’s an opportunity to honor their ancestors' traditions while making new memories. For those who are new to the feast, it’s an exciting way to delve into cultural traditions and sample some fantastic seafood.

So, whether you’re planning to host your own Feast of the Seven Fishes this year or just curious about this festive tradition, it’s all about celebrating with loved ones and enjoying the holiday spirit—one delicious fish dish at a time. Buon appetito and happy holidays!

A Feast of the Seven Fishes Menu

Each course in our Feast of Seven Fishes is designed to offer a unique taste of the ocean’s bounty. Enjoy the journey through these maritime flavors, and may your evening be as splendid as the feast itself!

Tips for hosting your own Feast of the Seven Fishes:

• Set the Stage. Antipasti is a must for nearly all dinner get-togethers, but especially for large holiday meals. With a feast ahead, serve up a lighter antipasto option or two. Go easy on the heavy, rich and creamy and try some crisp crudités with a buttery Bagna Cauda or a colorful crostini.

• Say “Yes” to Seafood Salads. Before you go big with heartier courses, introduce a cold salad featuring fresh greens, cold seafood (like calamari, squid, baccalà, shrimp, etc.) and dress it in a citrusy vinaigrette to cleanse the palate before the feature.

• Pasta, Please. Let’s face it­—it wouldn’t be an Italian meal without pasta. Typically Italians keep it simple with butter and herb sauces, allowing the pasta dish to serve as more of a course than the main event. Some go for a classic seafood sauce like Linguine with Clam Sauce, while others favor tomato or cream sauces. No matter what you do, make sure you don’t forget that Italian staple.

• Soup’s On. Don’t be afraid to go hearty with seafood soups, stews and risotto dishes. These simmered, seafood-laden recipes are an excellent addition to your well-rounded fishy feast. If you’re looking for an easy dish with big flavor, may we suggest a bold tomato and shrimp Cioppino? Just don’t forget the garlicky breadsticks or some hearty Italian bread for dipping.

• The Main Entrée. This “meaty” main is typically a big fish—either roasted, fried or grilled—but don’t let the fish thing be your hang up. Some Feasters delve into the world of shellfish, serving up lobster or shrimp scampi as the main event. We like fillets topped with beloved Mediterranean flavors (and any excuse for olives…).

• Dine with Wine. For such a large and special occasion featuring multiple flavor profiles, your best bet is to offer a variety of wines. But when it comes to the breadth of the meal and the briny, savory seafood flavors, we recommend bright, citrusy white wines: Pinot Gris, Sauvignon blanc, Riesling, Semillon, etc.

• Wrap It Up with Something Sweet. Holidays are the perfect excuse to indulge and what better way to round off a feast than with a festive selection of cookies, cakes and sweet treats? After Midnight Mass, most Italians reconvene at home to warm up with hot chocolate, biscotti, torrone (nougat candy) and that candied-citrus sweet bread, panettone. So be sure to treat yourself… just be sure to leave enough biscotti for Santa and the reindeer.

Feast of the Seven Fishes: FAQ

What Does The Feast of the Seven Fishes Symbolize?

The number seven in the Feast of the Seven Fishes is often thought to represent the seven sacraments in Catholicism or the seven hills of Rome, reflecting Italy’s rich religious and historical heritage. However, it's interesting to note that there's no hard and fast rule about the number of dishes served; some families might serve more or fewer, but seven is a popular choice because of its symbolic meanings in the Bible and beyond.

The feast itself is a way to abstain from red meat until the big Christmas Day meal, in accordance with Catholic tradition. It’s a beautiful blend of religious observance, cultural heritage, and culinary delight, bringing families together to enjoy a meal, celebrate their heritage, and prepare for the joy of Christmas. So, it’s not just about the fish—it’s about family, tradition, and shared memories. Buon appetito!

Do Italians in Italy Celebrate The Seven Fishes?

In Italy, the Feast of the Seven Fishes isn't widely celebrated as it is in Italian-American communities. This festive tradition, which involves a grand meal of various seafood dishes on Christmas Eve, is more of an Italian-American innovation. Italians in Italy do observe La Vigilia (the vigil) on Christmas Eve with a meal that emphasizes fish, reflecting the practice of abstaining from meat until Christmas Day, but it doesn’t typically feature exactly seven fishes. The dishes and the number of them can vary widely from family to family and region to region in Italy. It's a beautiful example of how traditions can evolve and take on new meanings in different cultures.