Feast of the Seven Fishes?

Question

I have been answering questions about this Italian tradition that my family has been doing before I was even born. Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian-American tradition that takes place on Christmas Eve. In Italy, it's a fasting day called La Vigilia, a day for abstinence from meat... until Christmas Day, and then there is a big mid-day meal of pasta with meats.
In America, Italians brought this tradition to Little Italy in New York, sometime in the late 1800's. Why seven fishes? It may be from the Catholic Seven Sacraments or named from the Seven Hills of Rome. No one is quite sure.
There are some very traditional fishes that are served here in the U. S... eels, baccala (salt cod), calamari (squid), shrimp, mussels & clams and more.
From the 1800's, fast forward to 2022. Most families who celebrate this feast, will be doing so with seven of their family's favorite seafood recipes.

Rosexøxø · Accepted Answer

I can’t smell all 7 👐😭 but this puts me in a nautical dining mood! I’ve only came close to sea food, as much as my sister’s sushi, some Hispanic fried fish, tuna, and publically- at red lobster! 👐🤧

I get it’s not authentic- but I can’t resist 🙊🦞

I just love this incorporation of history though. I clearly need to try some seafood- Italian style!💪🍾🥂🍤🍝

#HappyGourmet!

moondazed · Accepted Answer

This question made me hungry yum 😋

I make fish often. These are some of my favorites:

Baked cod with olives and tomatoes is great

Salmon with dill and mustard

Shrimp scampi

Mussels and clams in garlic and wine

All are easy to make and delicious. Enjoy your Feast! I have been to one of these, years ago in Naples. My landlady invited us. It was fantastic!

SnowedIn · Answer

What a wonderful tradition! Thank you for sharing.

AviatorTom · Answer

An interesting tradition... enjoy!

Lliam · Answer

Sounds great. I LOVE seafood!

I was raised Catholic and there was some kind of rule about not eating meat on Fridays. So my mom would make fish sticks on Fridays, as if eating fish was a sacrifice or something. LOL

Obviously, frozen fish sticks was not a culinary delight.

But once I move out, I discovered all the amazing possibilities for seafood. My favorites are lobster, muscles, crab, shrimp and scallops. But I like most fish, too.

A good cioppino like in the photo kicks ass! And, OMG, Korean jiamppong!

I know that I would immensely enjoy an Italian seven fishes feast. Bring it on!

lightbulb27 · Answer

no Branzino or sardines?

Most memorable fish I ever had was in Italy... I picked a fish off the ice for a group of people, didn't ask the price. Apparently fish on ice are much larger than they appear. It was 200 Euros fish... very expensive! It was so much better after finding out how much it cost!

Enjoy yoru tradition. I only had flounder my mom would make, but didn't have that tradition in my family... and they were from fishing village. They had pasta meatballs... and plenty of wine!

... go figure...

TrueConfection · Answer

Sounds delicious! I would love this tradition 😋

ODC2112 · Answer

The feast of the seven fishes does not exist in Italy. Even the Christmas Eve dinner is territorially different. Southern and central Italians, also emigrated to the north, have dinner on Christmas Eve. Northern Italians have Christmas lunch.
The Feast of the Seven Fishes seems to me to be a sort of celebration that unites various pan-South Italian traditions, probably taking place in the segregated neighborhoods of the US where various southern Italian regional cultures have merged.

midnightmoon05 · Answer

I have eaten all "seven". Maybe 2-3 at one setting. Never 7 in one setting.  You already named 6. Scollop? Lobster?

Jamie05rhs · Answer

Thanks for sharing! I did not know that! (Sadly, I do not have any Italians in my family.)

Msputiton · Answer

Interesting. Never heard of it before, and i dated an italian

Sparkie460 · Answer

I'm not Italian but I heard about the seven fishes. Nobody in my family likes fish except for me.

Iron_Man · Answer

No, I can’t, but the bread looks great

Anonymous · Answer

Sounds lovely. I love fish and feast days.

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