It's December! Time to bring out all the decorations, shop until you drop, and celebrate the festivities in whatever manner or tradition you choose. We all have traditions this time of year which are important to us. The one I'm going to talk about only some of you will know.
FESTA DEI SETTE PESCI
For many of you, the Feast of the Seven Fishes may not ring a bell…particularly as a Christmas tradition…but for those of southern Italian heritage, it may bring back fond memories of Christmas Eves Past. Before I lived in Italy, I’d never heard of this Christmas Eve tradition (even though my mother was a quarter Italian). Only after I married a Sicilian did I learn about this treasured Christmas Eve tradition.
The Feast of the Seven Fishes, also known as The Vigil (La Vigilia or Il Cenone di Vigilia), is a tradition believed by most to have originated in Southern Italy and was not celebrated in other parts of Italy.
It is a feast to commemorate the wait for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus. In my husband’s home town of Messina, Sicily, after the feast (which lasts for hours) everyone plays cards until it is time for midnight mass. Then there is a long procession and everyone walks to the local church following a status of the Madonna. After mass, some people would play cards for the rest of the night. Not me.
FESTA DEI SETTE PESCI
For many of you, the Feast of the Seven Fishes may not ring a bell…particularly as a Christmas tradition…but for those of southern Italian heritage, it may bring back fond memories of Christmas Eves Past. Before I lived in Italy, I’d never heard of this Christmas Eve tradition (even though my mother was a quarter Italian). Only after I married a Sicilian did I learn about this treasured Christmas Eve tradition.
The Feast of the Seven Fishes, also known as The Vigil (La Vigilia or Il Cenone di Vigilia), is a tradition believed by most to have originated in Southern Italy and was not celebrated in other parts of Italy.
It is a feast to commemorate the wait for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus. In my husband’s home town of Messina, Sicily, after the feast (which lasts for hours) everyone plays cards until it is time for midnight mass. Then there is a long procession and everyone walks to the local church following a status of the Madonna. After mass, some people would play cards for the rest of the night. Not me.
SYMBOLISM
Eating seafood on Christmas Eve originates from the Roman Catholic tradition of not eating meat or milk products on Fridays and specific holy days. Because no meat or butter could be used on such days, observant Catholics would eat fish, typically fried in oil.
The number seven stands for the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and the seven days of creation. In Biblical numerology, seven is a number of perfection. Another explanation is the traditional Biblical number for divinity is three, and for Earth is four, and the combination of these numbers, seven, represents God on Earth, or Jesus Christ. Finally, if could refer to Mary and Joseph's seven days of travel to reach Bethlehem.
Today, it is a feast that typically consists of seven different seafood dishes (mostly shell fish) and pasta. Some Italian American families celebrate with 9, 11 or 13 different seafood dishes, but the tradition is seven.'
TYPICAL MENUS
The fish southern Italians are known for is baccalà (salted cod fish), a simple fish used extensively by the impoverished regions of Southern Italy. Fried smelts, calamari, and other types of seafood have been incorporated into the Christmas Eve dinner over the years. The menu varies depending on the family, but here are some typical examples.
First example – Typical seven fishes:
● Calamari (squid)
● Scungilli [skuhn-GEE-lee] (conch)
● Baccalá [bah-kah-LAH] (dry, salt cod)
● Scampi (shrimp)
● Clams served with pasta
● Mussels
● Some type of big fish, ususally a snapper, sea trout, tuna, or salmon.
Fried Calimari Clams Muscles Seafood Risotto Fried Eel
Eating seafood on Christmas Eve originates from the Roman Catholic tradition of not eating meat or milk products on Fridays and specific holy days. Because no meat or butter could be used on such days, observant Catholics would eat fish, typically fried in oil.
The number seven stands for the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church and the seven days of creation. In Biblical numerology, seven is a number of perfection. Another explanation is the traditional Biblical number for divinity is three, and for Earth is four, and the combination of these numbers, seven, represents God on Earth, or Jesus Christ. Finally, if could refer to Mary and Joseph's seven days of travel to reach Bethlehem.
Today, it is a feast that typically consists of seven different seafood dishes (mostly shell fish) and pasta. Some Italian American families celebrate with 9, 11 or 13 different seafood dishes, but the tradition is seven.'
TYPICAL MENUS
The fish southern Italians are known for is baccalà (salted cod fish), a simple fish used extensively by the impoverished regions of Southern Italy. Fried smelts, calamari, and other types of seafood have been incorporated into the Christmas Eve dinner over the years. The menu varies depending on the family, but here are some typical examples.
First example – Typical seven fishes:
● Calamari (squid)
● Scungilli [skuhn-GEE-lee] (conch)
● Baccalá [bah-kah-LAH] (dry, salt cod)
● Scampi (shrimp)
● Clams served with pasta
● Mussels
● Some type of big fish, ususally a snapper, sea trout, tuna, or salmon.
Fried Calimari Clams Muscles Seafood Risotto Fried Eel
Clams & zucchini Tieramisui Baccala Pizzelle Linguini & shrimp
Second example – A more simple feast
● Stuffed Calamari in Tomato Sauce – Squid stuffed with breadcrumbs, garlic, oil/milk, and 3 eggs. The stuffed squid is baked with a white sauce, cheddar and olive oil.
●Deep Fried Fish/Shrimp – Fish/Shrimp dipped into batter and placed into deep fryer. Dish is typically served with lemon and/or cocktail sauce.
●Linguine with Clam Sauce – A mildly spicy dish that combines Linguine pasta served with tomato sauce and cooked clams.
●Marinated Eel (Anguilla Marinata) - Bite-size cut eel deep fried and seasoned with salt and pepper marinated, after being fried, in a garlic, balsamic vinegar, and sugar sauce.
●Baccalà – De-salted, by soaking water, cod cut into bite-sized portions, pan fried until brown; and served with tomato sauce and pasta.
●Tiramisù – Layered dessert that incorporates layers of coffee soaked ladyfingers, marscapone crème with Marsala and cocoa powder.
Third Example – An elaborate celebration meal
Appetizers (Antipasti)Fried Calamari
Clams and Mussels Posillipo
Shrimp (Scampi)
Clams Oreganato
Seafood salad (Insalata Frutta di Mare)
First Course (Primi) Linguini in White Clam Sauce
Linguini with Blue Crab Sauce
Spaghetti Alla RosinellaSecond Course (Secondi) Red Snapper Livornesa
Stuffed Lobster
Seafood Risotto
RECIPE
If you are a risk taker or a lover of food that comes from the sea, you might want to try this recipe by Shannon Tinnell for Marinated Eel.
(Posted on http://www.sevenfishesblog.com/ )
People often reject this dish because of the name.
Shannon wrote: "But it’s so great it usually diffuses their hesitations once they’ve tried it. Sometimes, Robert will tell them it’s chicken just to get them to try it at first."
Keep in mind that the process takes several hours, can’t be done on a whim!
You will need:
1 eel-typically 3-4 pounds
3 cups balsamic vinegar
1 cup sugar
5-7 cloves of garlic
Salt
Pepper
1 cup of flour
6 ½ cups of olive oil
Fresh basil and parsley
How you do it:
Mince/crush garlic cloves and mix with sugar and balsamic vinegar
Bring mixture to a boil and allow it to cook until it’s reduced to approx. 2 cups
Remove from heat
Heat 6 cups of olive oil in a Dutch oven
While oil is heating, cut eel into bite-sized chunks
Season eel with salt and pepper
Roll eel in flour
Once oil is ready (can use various methods to check-I use water test) drop 3-4 pieces of eel into oil
After browning (should take approx 5-6 mins) drain on a plate with paper towels
Once all of the eel is done, place in large bowl
Pour reduced vinegar mixture over them to marinate
Refrigerate about an hour before serving
Remove at time of serving and drizzle oil and herbs
Allow to reach room temperature before serving
Buon Appetito!
Shannon Tinnell
Resources
http://www.sevenfishesblog.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Seven_Fishes
http://www.winemag.com/gallery/8-recipes-for-feast-of-the-seven-fishes/
http://dish.allrecipes.com/feast-of-the-seven-fishes/
http://www.italiansrus.com/articles/7fishes.htm
http://elshaddaiministries.us/lp/bpo3.php
http://christmas.lovetoknow.com/christmas-history-traditions/why-do-italians-eat-seven-fish-christmas-eve
Second example – A more simple feast
● Stuffed Calamari in Tomato Sauce – Squid stuffed with breadcrumbs, garlic, oil/milk, and 3 eggs. The stuffed squid is baked with a white sauce, cheddar and olive oil.
●Deep Fried Fish/Shrimp – Fish/Shrimp dipped into batter and placed into deep fryer. Dish is typically served with lemon and/or cocktail sauce.
●Linguine with Clam Sauce – A mildly spicy dish that combines Linguine pasta served with tomato sauce and cooked clams.
●Marinated Eel (Anguilla Marinata) - Bite-size cut eel deep fried and seasoned with salt and pepper marinated, after being fried, in a garlic, balsamic vinegar, and sugar sauce.
●Baccalà – De-salted, by soaking water, cod cut into bite-sized portions, pan fried until brown; and served with tomato sauce and pasta.
●Tiramisù – Layered dessert that incorporates layers of coffee soaked ladyfingers, marscapone crème with Marsala and cocoa powder.
Third Example – An elaborate celebration meal
Appetizers (Antipasti)Fried Calamari
Clams and Mussels Posillipo
Shrimp (Scampi)
Clams Oreganato
Seafood salad (Insalata Frutta di Mare)
First Course (Primi) Linguini in White Clam Sauce
Linguini with Blue Crab Sauce
Spaghetti Alla RosinellaSecond Course (Secondi) Red Snapper Livornesa
Stuffed Lobster
Seafood Risotto
RECIPE
If you are a risk taker or a lover of food that comes from the sea, you might want to try this recipe by Shannon Tinnell for Marinated Eel.
(Posted on http://www.sevenfishesblog.com/ )
People often reject this dish because of the name.
Shannon wrote: "But it’s so great it usually diffuses their hesitations once they’ve tried it. Sometimes, Robert will tell them it’s chicken just to get them to try it at first."
Keep in mind that the process takes several hours, can’t be done on a whim!
You will need:
1 eel-typically 3-4 pounds
3 cups balsamic vinegar
1 cup sugar
5-7 cloves of garlic
Salt
Pepper
1 cup of flour
6 ½ cups of olive oil
Fresh basil and parsley
How you do it:
Mince/crush garlic cloves and mix with sugar and balsamic vinegar
Bring mixture to a boil and allow it to cook until it’s reduced to approx. 2 cups
Remove from heat
Heat 6 cups of olive oil in a Dutch oven
While oil is heating, cut eel into bite-sized chunks
Season eel with salt and pepper
Roll eel in flour
Once oil is ready (can use various methods to check-I use water test) drop 3-4 pieces of eel into oil
After browning (should take approx 5-6 mins) drain on a plate with paper towels
Once all of the eel is done, place in large bowl
Pour reduced vinegar mixture over them to marinate
Refrigerate about an hour before serving
Remove at time of serving and drizzle oil and herbs
Allow to reach room temperature before serving
Buon Appetito!
Shannon Tinnell
Resources
http://www.sevenfishesblog.com/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Seven_Fishes
http://www.winemag.com/gallery/8-recipes-for-feast-of-the-seven-fishes/
http://dish.allrecipes.com/feast-of-the-seven-fishes/
http://www.italiansrus.com/articles/7fishes.htm
http://elshaddaiministries.us/lp/bpo3.php
http://christmas.lovetoknow.com/christmas-history-traditions/why-do-italians-eat-seven-fish-christmas-eve
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