12/24 Feast of the Seven Fishes

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition rooted in the Catholic practice of abstaining from meat before major religious holidays. Families gather around a table abundant with seafood - seven courses symbolizing either the seven sacraments, the days of creation, or other sacred numbers in Christian tradition.

The menu varies from family to family, but often features a lavish array of sea-focused dishes prepared in ways that reflect both Old World recipes and New World influences. Served in a warm, celebratory setting, the feast is as much about honoring heritage and togetherness as it is about the food itself—an evening where the sea takes center stage, and generations share stories, toasts, and the joy of the holiday season.