What do the 7 fishes represent on Christmas Eve?
The Feast of the Seven Fishes, or “Festa dei Sette Pesci”, is a Christmas Eve tradition in many Italian households. Most popular in Southern Italy and in Italian-American homes, this Christmas Eve feast stems from Catholics abstaining from meat in commemoration of waiting for the birth of baby Jesus.
Why do Sicilians eat fish on Christmas Eve?
Eating fish on Christmas Eve traces back to the Roman Catholic tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays as well as specific Holy Days. Abstaining from meat on Christmas Eve would have signified waiting and anticipation of of the Christ Child’s arrival on Christmas morning.
Why is there a Feast of the Seven Fishes?
The tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes stems from 20th-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.
Do they celebrate the 7 fishes in Italy?
The Italian feast of the seven fishes is a tradition celebrated every year in mostly Southern Italy and in Italian-Americans throughout the United States. However, one does not have to be Italian to celebrate this tradition.
Where did the Seven Fishes originate?
Southern Italy
Origins and tradition Today, the meal typically consists of seven different seafood dishes. 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.
How did the Feast of the Seven Fishes begin?
Italian-American families rekindled the Old Country’s Christmas Eve tradition by preparing a seven-course seafood meal (hence the name of the newly found tradition) that both made them feel close to their homes, while celebrating the sea, a major connection in Italy.
Is Feast of Seven Fishes Sicilian?
Feast of the Seven Fishes, also known as La Vigilia (The Vigil), is a Sicilian-American traditional dinner on Christmas Eve. Like many Italian traditions, the origin and rules are debated.
Is it a sin to eat meat on Christmas Eve?
Christmas Eve is not a solemnity, so the current rules regarding Friday abstinence apply. If your national bishops’ conference has said that Catholics in your country should abstain from meat on Fridays, then Christmas Eve is no exception.
Where did 7 fishes originated?
Origins and tradition Today, the meal typically consists of seven different seafood dishes. 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.
Is the Feast of Seven Fishes Catholic?
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.
How do you say the Feast of the Seven Fishes in Italian?
Festa dei Sette Pesci (Feast of the Seven Fishes) For hundreds of years, La Vigilia di Natale (the Feast of the Seven Fishes) has been an Italian family Christmas Eve tradition.
What is the traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner?
As is the tradition in Italy, the Christmas Eve meal consists mainly of seafood and no meat. Often called Feast of the Seven Fishes (Cena della Vigilia). What is this? Deep Fried, Battered Salt Cod ~ Very delicious!
Why do Italians eat 7 different types of fish on Christmas Eve?
Many also wonder why Italians eat 7 different types of fish on Christmas Eve. Although there is not one known reason, many believe it is because the number 7 is symbolic. 7 is often considered to be God’s number. However, other families actually eat 10 fish to signify the stations of the cross and others eat 12 referring to the apostles.
Why do we eat Seven Fishes on Christmas?
While the modern tradition is to eat seven fishes, the actual reason behind the number seven is not completely clear. Some believe the number seven represents the days in a week, the seven sacraments, or the seven deadly sins.
What is the Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes?
The Italian feast of the seven fishes is a tradition celebrated every year in mostly Southern Italy and in Italian-Americans throughout the United States. However, one does not have to be Italian to celebrate this tradition.
Why do Italians eat 7 different types of fish during fasts?
Since meat is not eaten during the fast until Holy Communion is received during Midnight Mass, Italians then began indulging in seven different types of fish as a substitute. As for why the number is predominately seven, it is tied to symbols of Catholicism, though it’s unclear what exactly it represents.