[PW] Feast of Seven Fishes

[Lois Fundis]

I saw something about this on a local news program last week, but can't find 
it on their website now, and several of my friends of Italian ancestry 
practice this tradition.

But I did find this article from a local paper (well, not so much local to 
where I live now as it is to where I grew up) on Christmas traditions with a 
good long section on the seven-fishes custom:

Family, food highlight Italian celebration
By Gen Lucidi, Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
http://www.gatewaynewspapers.com/common/traditions/40574/

Here is the relevant section of the article:

Various grandchildren and great-grandchildren observe La Vigilia Festa Di 
Natale or Christmas Eve by serving an array of fishes. The Sicilians, who 
lived by the ocean, are said to have originated the custom at a time when 
Catholics were not permitted meat on Christmas Eve.
Calamari (squid), scungilli, baccala (dry, salted cod), shrimp, clams, 
mussels, and large fish such as snapper, sea trout, tuna or salmon are the 
fish typically prepared on Christmas Eve.

Eel, once a favorite, has become too expensive for most families. Italians 
believe eels shed their skin to rid the evils of the world and their new 
skin represents good luck in the coming year.

Although the number of fish dishes varies from family to family, seven seems 
to be the most popular. Some say seven symbolizes the number of Catholic 
sacraments. Others contend it refers to the days of creation or utterances 
that Christ made from the cross.

"Being old enough to go to midnight Mass on Christmas Eve with the adults 
was a big thing. And you always knew who ate baccala. The fish had such a 
strong odor that you could smell it in church," says Perry, a retired 
electrician.

--
Lois Aleta Fundis, Reference and Government Documents Librarian
Mary H. Weir Public Library  ^~~~^  Weirton, WV 26062
fundisl at weirton.lib.wv.us      O   O   (304) 797-8510, fax -8526
Depository number 0655A        \/      The owl says, "Carpe librum!"