A Very Italian Christmas
Twas the day before christmas, and all through the house
Every Italian was stirring and running about
For Italian grandmothers all over the globe Christmas Eve comes early. One must be on the lookout for in-season fish year round and be prepared to spare room in the freezer for all the prep. Some grandmothers, or nonas as Italians might say, might even tell you to buy a second freezer. Then, any Italian would tell you to make your fish sauce prior to Christmas Eve and freeze it so that the flavors build over time. All in all, the average Italian starts preparing for the holiday season abouthmmmmm 364 days before.
For those of you who don't know, Italian Christmas Eve is one of the most spectacular, sought after holidays of the year. From the 7 fishes, to the hundreds of cookies, cakes, breads, and constantly building new traditions , it would be in your best interest to find an Italian friend and beg for an invite to such an amazing holiday experience.
One of the most common and repeated holiday traditions is the feast of the 7 fishes on Christmas Eve. It is a well respected tradition that on the night of December 24th each Italian household has a feast that excludes meat and cheese. Though it is not fully known why this became such a staple, it stemmed from Roman Catholic traditions and have continued over the years. The most common fish eaten during this celebration are:
Salt cod
Shellfish
Eel
Squid
Conch meat
Clams
Other fish that are plentiful or seasonal are always added. There is also usually a fish soup or fish pasta including fish like lobster, scallops, crabs and others that is another addition to the 7 fishes.
Many families also attend midnight mass on christmas eve. It is a beautiful and sentimental service full of love, gratitude, giving, good faith and singing. Expect nona to pack up a plate of cookies as you all bundle up to head out into the cold night. For those who actually live in Italy, or travel there during the holidays take it to another level and visit the Vatican the night of Christmas Eve as their form of midnight mass. Not all families attend this but if you’re going to spend Christmas with an Italian family deeply rooted in tradition, don't expect an early night.
Italians are just like everyone else, the holiday season revolves around family and those we love and want to ring in the new year with. Coming together at the end of the year with people you might see every day or with some people you might only see once a year, being with your family and loved ones is the most important part.