One of my favorite family traditions is the Feast of the Seven Fishes. However, whenever I’d mention that name to my friends, particularly as a kid, they would often just look at me in confusion. I’ve been celebrating this, in my opinion, incredibly iconic beginning to Christmas for as long as I can remember, so it was a bit hard for me to articulate just what this is to people who weren’t familiar with the concept at all. The idea seems to be becoming more mainstream each year, though, with apps like TikTok and shows like The Bear that can easily introduce this feast to the masses. But for those who want a more in-depth look at one of my favorite times of the year, this article is for you!
So, what is this feast?
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is honestly explained pretty succinctly in its name. It’s a feast of seven different seafood dishes that takes place on Christmas Eve, typically for dinner. It’s primarily celebrated by Italian Americans, although some native Italians still celebrate it as well. There’s no set dishes that necessarily have to be served at this feast. As long as there’s seven different types of seafood, you’re fulfilling the criteria! There are a few more traditional choices you can include — some type of lobster or eel is pretty common, as well as baccalá, a salted cod dish.
Where does the feast come from?
There’s a strong history behind the Feast of the Seven Fishes, with many different aspects of Italian culture converging to create this festivity. Specifically Southern Italy, or Sicily, which is where my family is from, has always been very fish-forward, considering the strong fishing economy of the area. The country is also predominantly Roman Catholic, and this religious influence is probably the biggest reason for the feast. Traditional Roman Catholics will often fast leading up to major holidays, and Christmas is undeniably the most major of holidays for the Christian faith. Many Sicilian families took to breaking their fast for the holiday with a large meal of fish, which was this feast in its earliest form.
There’s also very particular reasons behind both the number of dishes and the name. The number seven comes up very often in Christianity — the seven Catholic sacraments, the seven deadly sins, the seven heavenly virtues, and, more specifically for Italians, the seven hills of Rome. All of these serve as important tenets to the Italian church, so it’s no wonder the number chosen for this meal would be the same. The name of the feast is more up to interpretation, though. In the country of Italy, the meal is most commonly known as Cena Della Vigil, or dinner of the Vigil, because of Christmas Eve’s name as The Vigil of the Nativity. The Feast of the Seven Fishes was coined by Italian Americans, most notably ones who had emigrated to the East Coast in the 20th century.
How should you celebrate?
As you’ve hopefully picked up by now, there’s no one right way to celebrate this tradition! Personally, I don’t believe you even have to be Italian to partake. While this has always been very emotionally resonant to me because of my cultural connection, I think any seafood fan should take this opportunity to craft their dream dinner menu.
In the past, some of my favorite menu items my family and I have planned have been salmon sushi rolls, grilled eel, steamed mussels, and crab cakes. With a feast like this, it provides a very fun opportunity to give different people coming to the dinner a chance to choose or even make their own dish for the occasion. In The Bear’s episode about this tradition, they show a more potluck style, with extended family each bringing a different dish. Extended family tends to be a part of these meals, too, placing a heavy emphasis on community. This could also be a really great friend-Christmas idea as well, though. No matter how you plan to celebrate it, I ultimately encourage everyone who’s even the littlest bit interested to give it a try. The Feast of the Seven Fishes is one of my favorite holiday traditions, and I hope it can become yours, too.