The Feast of the Seven Fishes: An Italian-American Christmas Eve Tradition

The Feast of the Seven Fishes Tradition

• 🇮🇹 The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a beloved tradition, particularly in Italian-American homes, celebrated on Christmas Eve.
• 🐟 This tradition involves serving seven or more types of seafood on Christmas Eve, though some families, like John Cassenza's, serve around 10.
• 📜 The exact origin of this tradition is uncertain, but it is a significant part of family heritage for many.

Busiest Day for Seafood

• 📈 The day before Christmas Eve is the busiest day of the year for seafood markets.
• 🦀 Businesses like Cassenza's on Arthur Avenue, with over 108 years of history, prepare for massive crowds.
• 🛒 Customers snap up a variety of seafood, including snapper, clams, and bacala, in preparation for the feast.

Seafood Popularity and Variety

• 🦐 Popular seafood items purchased include cod, bronzino, salmon, lobster, shrimp, scallops, and mussels.
• 📊 Stu Leonard's in Connecticut, a state with a high percentage of Italian heritage residents, sells eight times more seafood than on a typical day.
• 🇵🇹 While strongly associated with Italian heritage, traditions involving fish on Christmas Eve are also observed by other communities, such as Portuguese families.

The True Meaning of the Feast

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Nick Delico emphasizes that family is the most important element of the feast, with all generations coming together.
• ❤️ The focus is on who is around the table, rather than solely on the specific dishes served.