Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/375622
K nown in America as the Feast of the Seven Fishes (the plural is intentional), the Christmas Eve seafood fest is one of the most recognized Italian holiday meal traditions. Yet its origins are not completely clear. The Old World folk tradition reportedly started in Naples, Calabria, and Sicily and is not typically practiced in the northern parts of Italy. Some even say the assignment of seven fish, specifically, is more of an Italian-American custom. While its origins are rooted in Roman Catholic traditions, this Italian Christmas Eve seafood extravaganza may be more popular—and outsized—in the United States. BY DENISE PURCELL FALL 2014 131 SEVEN FISHES THE FEAST OF THE global eats