by A. Talbot

Despite all the hullabaloo surrounding Christmas, for many Italian Americans, one of the most exciting meals of the year happens the night before: the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. No one entirely knows how the tradition started, but a few details are widely understood.

For starters, Christmas Eve is technically a fast day — or at least a partial one, meaning no meat. From there, it evolved into a luxurious spread with various types of seafood. The number seven might be derived from the sacraments. 

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Source: http://www.courant.com/