Known as La Vigilia (the vigil) in southern Italy, the Feast of the Seven Fishes is a classically Italian way to celebrate Christmas Eve, first introduced to the northeast in the late 1800s by Italian immigrants. The meal’s roots come, ironically, from fasting. Catholic tradition dictates meatless fasts before major holidays — but in the American way, the Christmas Eve fish dinner has turned into a celebration all its own. 

While some of Boston’s Italian restaurants will serve a more customary version of the feast sometime between now and Christmas, often featuring seafood like salt cod, calamari, and fish soup, other local hotspots have gotten in on the action, offering twists on the traditional Italian meal.