Close

Many Italian-Americans today trace their heritage back to the Italian immigrants who arrived on Ellis Island back in the late 1800s. Along with their luggage, they brought their language, traditions, and food. These days, Italian food is so ubiquitous in American culture that some countries may recognize pizza and, to a lesser extent, spaghetti as...

592

The holidays are coming, and while people across the United States may end up doing something similar – exchanging gifts, toasting the season with eggnog and eating too much food – there’s no doubt that different parts of the county have different traditions when it comes to Christmas. And in New Jersey, it’s all about the seven fishes, a study cla...

613

It’s that time of year where the Italian tradition of the Feast of the Seven Fishes in Philadelphia is in full swing. However, in 2022, there are some new variations of the classic meal and some traditional favorites to indulge in, and we’ve got a round-up of all of the renditions to try.  Oyster House One thing this Center City hotspot certainly k...

272

If you grew up in an Italian-American family, then chances are you celebrated the Feast Of The Seven Fishes as part of your year-end celebrations. Usually observed during Christmas Eve dinner (Cenone della Vigilia di Natale), it’s a special holiday feast that includes seven different types of seafood. But what’s the connection to seven fishes on Ch...

627

Each Christmas Eve, Philadelphians of all ages gather around family dinner tables or crowd into tiny side street restaurants to commemorate the Feast of the Seven Fishes.  The massive, multi-course meal is largely celebrated by Italian-American families, and the tradition itself is based on the Roman Catholic practice of not eating meat on Christma...

411

If I close my eyes, I can vividly recall the emotions, aromas, and flavors of the various holidays from my childhood both in Italy and Philadelphia, to which I immigrated as a child. For Italians, holidays make up an important part of the family fabric and traditions that define us. Although I am enamored with all the holidays, my favorite has alwa...

639

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian tradition for Christmas Eve, which is also known as La Vigilia in the Southern Italy region. The seven-course meal, typically eaten on Christmas Eve, features fish and seafood-filled dishes such as stews, soups, and pastas. And luckily, for Austin, two local restaurants are offering their versions of the...

571

Dec. 24 has always been my favorite day of the year. Until I was 12, family members numbering in the dozens would descend upon my grandparents’ tiny two bedroom apartment in Troy, New York, for the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Although the Italian tradition typically means a day of fasting followed by a meatless banquet at night, my family took the i...

609

In 1823, Clement Clark Moore wrote A Visit from St. Nicholas, one of the most beloved Christmas poems of all time. But, in describing a home in which “Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse”, Moore makes pretty clear he isn’t Italian American! Because for us, the “Night Before Christmas” means La Vigilia… or in Italian America, The Feast of...

1439

From crusty golden Arthur Avenue bread, to perfectly pressed baccala, freshly made pasta and the best sausage and cheese, Little Italy in the Bronx is a “buon appetito” holiday hot spot. “I ask the people where they’re coming from. They’re coming from eastern Connecticut, Pennsylvania, South Jersey,” Bathgate resident Tony Morante told CBS2’s Tony...

658