What are the 7 fishes for Christmas Eve dinner?

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.

Why do Sicilian have 7 Fishes on Christmas?

The seven fish dishes refer to the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic church, or the seven days it took God to make the Universe, or the seven virtues, or the seven deadly sins. Some Italians celebrate with 13 dishes for the 12 apostles plus Jesus.

Is Feast of Seven Fishes a Catholic thing?

There is no such thing as the Feast of Seven Fishes on the Roman Catholic calendar. There never has been an official feast with this name in Italy or the United States. In fact, most sources agree that serving fish on Christmas Eve is mainly practiced by Southern Italians, when it’s practiced at all.

What are the 7 fishes for Christmas Eve dinner? – Related Questions

Why do we eat 7 different fish on Christmas Eve?

The tradition of eating fish on Christmas Eve comes from the Roman Catholic practice of not eating dairy or meat on the eve of some holidays, including Christmas. And the number seven is a symbol that’s repeated many times throughout the Bible – and in Catholicism, there are seven sacraments and deadly sins.

What is the story of the Seven Fishes?

The tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes stems from 20^th-century Italian-American immigrants who—homesick for the land they left behind—combined classic Italian dishes with seafood. The sea was a representation of the connection between their home country and new one.

Where did the Feast of Seven Fishes originate?

Origins and tradition

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.

Who celebrates the seven fishes?

What Is the Feast of Seven Fishes? In Italian-American households, the Feast of the Seven Fishes (also known as Festa dei Sette Pesci or La Vigilia) is celebrated on December 24. This Christmas Eve celebration kicks off the holiday festivities with a huge dinner consisting of seven courses of fish and seafood.

Is Fish Friday a Catholic thing?

Catholics are required to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and each Friday in Lent (including Good Friday). Fish is often used as a substitute for meat-based meals.

Is eating fish on Christmas Eve a Catholic tradition?

Eating Fish on Christmas Eve

The eating of fish on Christmas Eve is a Catholic tradition. Catholics were expected to abstain from eating meat or products derived from animals such as butter or dairy on Fridays and holy days.

What is traditional Christmas Eve dinner?

Serving ham as a Christmas Eve dinner rather than a Christmas dinner can either act a preview for what’s to come, or pave the way for chicken, turkey or roast the next day. The distinctly winter flavors of apple, maple, cinnamon and ginger will have the house smelling like the holidays just before they start.

What do the Irish eat on Christmas Eve?

Roast turkey is the most popular centrepiece of an Irish Christmas dinner. Alternatives to turkey include roast or boiled ham, both traditional and still popular.

What do Italians eat 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.

What is a typical French Christmas dinner?

Just like turkey is to Thanksgiving, a French Christmas main dish is almost always a large roasted “dinde” (turkey). A French Christmas turkey is traditionally made with a chestnut stuffing, and served with roasted potatoes, chestnuts and sometimes cooked apples around it.

What is a typical Italian breakfast in Italy?

Breakfast in Italy: what to expect

What is this? Homemade breakfast in Italy is usually a straightforward affair. Traditional breakfast drinks in Italian households are coffee, tea and cocoa milk for the kids and the main breakfast foods are bread with butter and jam, biscuits and cereals.

Why is there no meat on Christmas Eve in Italy?

Catholic tradition prohibits the consumption of meat on the evenings before religious holidays. Most Italians, therefore, eat a fishy feast on Christmas Eve, one so abundant that the lack of animal flesh is hardly noticed.

What do Italians do at midnight on Christmas?

Midnight Skiing

Given that the country is home to a portion of the Alps, it should come as no surprise that Italians love to ski. In Northern Italy, it is tradition for skiers to hit the slopes at midnight on Christmas Day, sometimes carrying torches to light their way as they ring in the holiday.

Why do Italians not like Friday the 17th?

This fear stems from the fact that the number 17’s Roman numeral, XVII, is an anagram of VIXI, which means “I have lived” in Latin. Some consider this a bad omen as it implies that death is just around the corner.

What is the most popular Christmas dinner in America?

Traditional American Christmas dinner food

Turkey. A turkey is an inexpensive main meal that will feed a lot of people.
Stuffing. Stuffing (sometimes called dressing) is another common Christmas dinner food.
Mashed potatoes.
Gravy.
Cranberry sauce.
Christmas ham.
Beef tenderloin.
Rack of lamb.

What is the most eaten thing on Christmas?

10 popular Christmas dishes in America

Prime rib. Prime rib, otherwise known as classic roast beef with bones, was always my meat of choice as a kid, simply because it was so much juicer than turkey.
The Christmas Turkey.
Stuffing.
Cranberry sauce.
Mashed potatoes.
Christmas Cornbread.
Biscuits.
Sweet potato casserole.