What kind of fish do Italians eat on Christmas Eve?

Baccalá A salted cod-type white fish, baccalá is about as close to sacred as a holiday dish can get. It's traditionally prepared by first soaking it in the kitchen sink for multiple nights leading up to the Christmas Eve feast.

What fish do Italians eat on Christmas Eve?

Typical "fishes" include baccalà (salt cod), frutti di mare (shellfish), capitone (eel), calamari (squid), scungilli (conch meat) and vongole (clams).

Why do Italians eat 7 fishes on Christmas Eve?

The Feast of Seven Fishes might have originated in southern Italy as a religious celebration to honor the Virgin Mary and to abstain from eating meat on Christmas Eve. As the tradition evolved, the number of fish dishes grew to seven, representing the seven sacraments of the church.

What do they eat on Christmas Eve in Italy?

FAQs What do Italians eat on Christmas Eve? Christmas Eve is celebrated with a big dinner called ``Cena della Vigilia,'' or ``Feast of the Seven Fishes. This traditional meal includes seven different seafood dishes, typically featuring clams, shrimp, and baccala (salted codfish).

What fish is eaten on Christmas Eve?

Among the different types of fish eaten on Christmas Eve, salted codfish is one of the most popular and versatile. It has always been considered a humble food because of its ease of storage, low cost and the fact that it is filling.

7 Fishes, 1 Feast: The Italian Christmas Eve Tradition You Need to Know!

What is the tradition of eating fish on Christmas Eve?

The tradition stems from the Roman Catholic observance of abstaining from eating meat on the eve of a feast day. As no meat or animal fat could be used on such days, observant Catholics would instead eat fish (typically fried in oil). It is unclear when or where the term "Feast of the Seven Fishes" was popularized.

Which fish is often eaten for a Christmas Eve meal across central Europe?

Eating carp at Christmas is a widespread tradition in Central and Eastern Europe. For centuries, families have enjoyed this freshwater fish as the main course for their Christmas Eve dinner.

Which type of food is not eaten in Italy on Christmas Eve?

It's tradition on Christmas Eve or La Vigilia to not eat meat as the day is classified a giorno di magro, or lean day meant to purify your body for the holiday. Capitone (eel) is an old favorite, but it's more common these days to find baccalà (salted cod), octopus, and shellfish.

What to serve for Italian Christmas?

Do Italians eat ham at Christmas?

So, while most American families' holiday tables are centered around ham or roasts, there is no one particular dish on every single Italian Christmas table; the only common trait is the joy in a very festive shared meal with family and friends.

Is the feast of seven fishes a Catholic thing?

But what exactly is the Feast of the Seven Fishes and where did the tradition come from? Here's a quick history lesson about the Italian Christmas dinner: It all stems from the Roman Catholic Church where it's customary to eat fish (and abstain from meat) on the eve of feast days.

Why do Germans eat fish on Christmas Eve?

But why the tradition for fish on Christmas Eve across eastern Europe? Mr Stenzel explains that it is the Roman Catholic practice in the region, and that Christmas Eve dinner marks the big final meal of the pre-Christmas, or advent fast period, during which meat is forbidden.

What are the rules for the seven fishes?

Despite having Italian roots, the feast of the seven fishes is decidedly an Italian American tradition. The rules for this traditional Christmas Eve dinner are simple — no meat, lots of fish, and a whole lot of cooking, mingling, conversation, and wine.

What do Sicilians eat on Christmas Eve?

What fish do Polish people eat on Christmas Eve?

Today, carp is a Christmas Eve must-have for many families. Christmas Eve carp is often accompanied by hot sauerkraut with dried mushrooms, a vegetable salad or potatoes.

What is a good side dish for seven fishes dinner?

The Side Course

A side of potatoes makes a great hearty extra. You can lighten things up with vegetable sides like spinach or leeks.

What do Italians traditionally eat as part of their Christmas Eve meal?

In Italy, Christmas Eve dinner is traditionally lighter with no meat and a lot of seafood, while the Italian-American meal has evolved into much more of a feast. 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.

What is a good Italian appetizer?

What is the Italian fish dinner on Christmas Eve?

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is the annual Christmas Eve vigil and epic seafood feast that has grown into the most beloved meal of the year in Italian-American households. Steeped in tradition, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is the centerpiece meal of the entire holiday season.

What do Italians eat for breakfast?

Other sweet options include maritozzi, the famous Italian sweet bread often found in Rome, or biscotti to go with your coffee. A healthy Italian breakfast might consist of some bread, butter, jam, some yogurt, and fruit. Italians also eat muesli and cereal in the mornings with yogurt or milk.

What do Italians do for Christmas Eve?

Christmas Eve, or La Vigilia, marks the most important celebration in the Italian Christmas calendar. Families gather for an elaborate pescatarian feast that can last until midnight mass.

Why don't people in Italy eat meat on Christmas Eve?

This practice has its roots in Catholicism, which prohibits the consumption of meat before religious holidays. A seafood meal is often eaten with family before heading to mass.

Why is seafood served on Christmas Eve in Italy?

The Feast of the Seven Fishes

This event originates from the Catholic belief that you should avoid eating meat on Holy days. And the most important Holy day is Christmas Eve, so it's logical to eat fish on Christmas Eve instead of meat.

What is the German Christmas Eve fish?

Christmas carp (German: Weihnachtskarpfen) is a traditional dish for Christmas Eve in Central Europe. The fish is traditionally kept in a bathtub before preparation to remove muddy flavours and is commonly fried or served in dishes like gefilte fish.

Which countries eat fish on Christmas Eve?

As a result, on Christmas Eve, in many Catholic countries fish is eaten to celebrate the end of the Nativity fast. Places like Czech, Poland and Slovakia have huge carp populations living in their in-land waterways. 90% of aquaculture in the Czech Republic is dedicated to carp.