Christmas Eve is a fasting day for any kind of meat, and only seafood is served (actually several kinds of fish is made on this day) as part of the menu.
This Italian Christmas Eve Tradition of no meat continues to stay true to an Italian American seafood feast we serve her in America.
The seafood is part of Catholic abstinence from eating meat until the feast of Christmas Day.
The "Grand Meal" (feast) consists of seven different seafood dishes and traditionally was started in Southern Italy, and known simply as The Vigil (La Vigilia).
This celebration was to wait and welcome the Vigilia di Natale, and the birth of baby Jesus.
The seafood for Roman Catholics typically is fried fish in oil and shellfish that they could afford and was freshly caught.
Among the fish were clams with pasta which we add to Cioppino which is a fish stew, a salted codfish called baccala being the most popular to serve which is a codfish in a tomato sauce or squid, white fish, and several others that were fried.
In some of the oldest Italian American families, there was no count of the number of fish dishes that were served this Christmas Eve night.
Fried smelts and other types of seafood like Calamari fried were introduced into the menu much later through the years on Christmas Eve.
Here is a sample of the most popular ones we make every year.
May you all have a blessed season upon and enjoy the Traditional we set forward to carry on with this Catholic Christmas Eve menu we made through the years.
More History
Well, in a nutshell, America takes credit for this 7 fishes tradition after the immigrants settled here.
Around 1861 Regions in Italy joined a single nation the states in the Southern part of Italy suffered for it.
The new government started allocating their resources to the north causing poverty, crime and made things worse.
Approximately 4 million people from those Regions moved to America from 1880 and 1924 which started the feast in American.
The immigrants felt closer to home continuing their fish Christmas Eve dinners and hence the Italian-American celebration was started and still continues.
In Italy, each of the 20 Regions has a different culinary tradition on Christmas Eve dinner.
Some families in Rome have a fish-based soup called minestra di pesce, and in Sardegna, they have pasta gnocchi served with sauce.
Seafood Scampi Pasta
Cioppino Fish Stew
Baked Cod with Roasted Vegetables
Baked Haddock with Shrimp Zucchini Salsa
Butter Crumb Escargot
Stuffed Flounder with Shrimp
Fried Calamari
Stuffed Calamari
Baccala
Fish Fry
Insalata Caprese
Best Tempura Batter for Shellfish
White or Red Italian Chowder
Cannoli Mousse
Italian Biscotti
Amaretto Pannetone
Tomato Pie
Torrone
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Merlot Chestnuts
Seafood Medley
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Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2012. It was edited and re-published in 2019.
Hi Claudia, everything look awesome, I especially love the nutella & Ferraro Rocher hot chocolate & Pizzelle.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a very Merry Christmas to you and all at home. Best Regards.
A good friend just made me a batch of homemade throne and I couldn't be more delighted! Of course, ate the whole thing already. Happy holidays!
ReplyDeleteClaudia, it all looks great, esp. the calamari, pizzelles, and Sambuca! Here's wishing you and yours a great Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful collection of recipes. I just stopped by to wish you a Merry Christmas. I hope you have a wonderful holiday. Hugs and Blessings...Mary
ReplyDeleteSo many delicious ideas here! We make pizzelli every year on Christmas Eve.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like such a great idea! Based on how much I love Italian food this might have to be my new tradition.
ReplyDeleteOh, my gosh, what a feast! You may find me at your door on Christmas Eve!! xo
ReplyDeleteThese all look so amazing, Claudia. I want to be at YOUR house for Christmas eve!!
ReplyDeleteThey all look incredible!
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