What Is the Feast of the Seven Fishes? All About the Christmas Eve Tradition 'The Bear' Made Even More Famous
Jeremy Allen White as Carmy in "The Bear" Season 2 Episode 6, "Fishes," which centers around the Italian American Feast of the Seven Fishes.
The Bear Season 2 delivered a classic Christmas Eve episode with "Fishes," which is full of celebrity guest appearances—Jamie Lee Curtis, Jon Bernthal, Bob Odenkirk, Community star Gillian Jacobs, Oliver Platt, Sarah Paulson and John Mulaney—and delicious food.
"Fishes" is a flashback episode going back about five years before the present-day setting of The Bear. It focuses on one specific year of the Berzattos' annual Feast of the Seven Fishes, which alcoholic matriarch Donna (Curtis) insists on preparing without help—leading to her being incredibly stressed to the point of drinking far too much, with seriously traumatic consequences. While that's going on, Mikey (Bernthal) throws a fork at Uncle Lee (Odenkirk) to goad him into a fight. The episode as a whole sheds light on how Carmy became Carmy, as well as why cannoli was ruined for him pretty much forever. (We won't spoil that part—you have to watch!)
While the Berzattos' Seven Fishes meal was certainly more anxiety-inducing and dramatic than most, the tradition isn't unique to the dysfunctional Chicago brood. Here's everything to know about the Christmas Eve custom, including some of the most popular dishes.
Related: 17 Recipes for Feast of the Seven Fishes
What is the Seven Fishes Italian tradition?
Many Italian Americans celebrate Christmas Eve with a feast of seven different types of seafood. The types of seafood and individual "fishes" can vary from family to family. Also, the "seven" part of the "Seven Fishes" is pretty loose—not every family keeps count, so it's possible that you'll have more or fewer seafood options when you sit down at the table.
What are the seven fishes for Italian Christmas Eve?
The seven fishes served on Christmas Eve at Italian American celebrations vary from family to family, but here are some popular options for a Feast of the Seven Fishes menu.
Baccalà (dried and salted cod)
Bucatini and scallops
Calamari (usually deep-fried)
Clams casino
Baked stuffed clams
Baked cod
Fried eel
Frutti di mare (seafood salad)
Linguine vongole (linguine with white wine clam sauce)
Lobster
Mussels marinara
Oyster shooters
Deep-fried scallops
Scungilli
Seafood brodetto (fish stew)
Seafood risotto
Deep-fried shrimp
Smelts
Spaghetti or linguine with crab sauce
Whitefish
Zuppa de pesce (seafood soup)
What's not typically present? Tuna casserole. Sorry, Pete!
What does the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve mean?
The seven fishes tradition is believed to be linked to the Roman Catholic tradition of fasting before a feast day and avoiding meat on the eve of a holy day, similar to the tradition of not eating meat on Good Friday (and for some, any Friday).
As for the number seven, it's likely a nod to the Biblical connotation of completion and perfection. According to the Book of Genesis, God created Earth and all of its creatures in seven days, Jesus' seven statements on the cross and his insistence on forgiving one another "seventy times seven times."
Although the celebration has its root in the Roman Catholic tradition, it's worth noting that the Feast of the Seven Fishes isn't celebrated as widely in Italy as it is in America, especially in the northeastern United States.
Related: Not Into Seafood? Check Out These Other Christmas Eve Dinner Recipes
What is the story of the Seven Fishes?
Much of the tradition of the Feast of Seven Fishes reportedly stems from early Italian American immigrants missing home around the holidays. Many Southern Italians relied on seafood for good, affordable meals, so feasting on seafood was a way for Italian Americans to honor their roots.
Related: 100 Best Seafood Recipes
Why do Italians eat fish on Christmas Eve?
Italians don't necessarily eat fish on Christmas Eve—but Italian Americans often do. Southern Italian families also may have a seafood feast on Christmas Eve, in part to avoid eating meat on the evening before Christmas.
Up next: 25 Unique Christmas Dinner Ideas
