Food has always been a big part of my family's gatherings, but when a holiday rolls around, we take it to a whole new level. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. It is a great day to get together with immediate family, but for an Italian-American, Christmas Eve is the main event. 

Many Italian-Americans eat what's known as the Feast of the Seven Fishes. No one knows exactly when or where this tradition began, but it's believed to be something started in America by Italian immigrants. While most regions in Italy do eat seafood on Christmas Eve, it's usually a specific dish. But here in America, bigger is better.