The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian American tradition as steeped in lore as it is in the saline taste of the sea. And, in classically literal Italian fashion (see also: tomato sauce; meatballs), it is also exactly what it sounds like.

But, while the reasons your family partakes might differ from the reasons our family celebrates, or even the chaotic way it's depicted on TV series "The Bear," which showcases the stresses of opening and operating a restaurant (and a family-run one at that), there are a few commonly accepted beliefs about its origins.