Celebrate Christmas Eve in the traditional Southern Italian style–with seafood seven ways. Buon Natale!
Photo by TTV78
La Viglia di Natale
On December 24, Italian families all over the world gather together for La Viglia di Natale–the Christmas vigil–where fish is on the menu instead of meat. Also called The Feast of the Seven Fishes, the ritual of La Viglia has been handed down from generation to generation over the centuries.
The Seven Fishes
La Viglia’s favored dishes may vary from family to family, but you will likely find an array of seafood that includes the freshest catch-of-the-day as well as clams, oysters, mussels, squid, shrimp, and lobster.
Photo by cookin’mama
- Swordfish a la Siciliana
- Fish Fillets Italiano
- Swordfish Calabrian Style
- Anchovy Linguine
- Pasta Con Sarde (Pasta with Sardines)
Clams, Oysters, and Mussels
Photo by LynnInHK
Calamari, Shrimp, and Lobster
Photo by LynnInHK
- Grilled Shrimp Scampi
- Grammy’s Calamari Salad
- Brodetto (Fish Stew) Ancona-Style
- Calamari in Red Wine and Tomato Sauce
- Ivan’s Mega Frutti Di Mare
Vegetables
Vegetables such as broccoli rabe and kale often round out the meal.
Photo by Linda (LMT)
- Broccoli Rabe with Roasted Peppers
- Italian Kale
- Maria’s Broccoli Rabe
- Escarole Siciliano
- VIDEO: Sauteed Swiss Chard with Parmesan
Dessert
Dessert can be anything from a simple cake to a staggering display of sweets.
Photo by ThatStephanie
Why Seven Fishes?
The number seven is thought to stand for the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. With its roots in religious observance, La Viglia customarily ends by attending midnight Mass.