why does a traditional italian christmas eve dinner consist of 7 fish dishes rather than some other number?

Answer 1

7 days it took God to create the world; 7 sacraments; 7 sins; 7 days it took Mary and Joseph to get to Bethlehem; 7 wonders of the world, 7 Hills of Rome, 7 winds of Italy - the truth is nobody knows for sure. It's tradition (in Southern Italy, not Northern Italy).

Answer 2

Your question brought a tear to my eye. I am blessed to have married into a traditional Italian family, and this was one of the first Christmas traditions that stands out in my mind, from when my husband and I were dating. His grandmother and mother would spend so much time and energy on cooking all the time, but on a High Holy day such as Christmas Eve, they would follow the traditional Dinner of the Seven Fishes which has it's beginnings in Sicilian and Neopolitan tradition. My mother in laws family is Sicilian. It is believed to be based on the week preceding the birth of Jesus, called the observance of the Cena della Vigilia, which some refer to as Holy Birth Vigil. Some people also connect it to Jesus serving the multitudes with the loaves and fishes. There are other connections to the days of the week, or the seven sins, or the stations of the cross; and each family will connect their belief accordingly. The number of courses are based on the monetary wealth of the family. Some families will have one course consisting of the simplest of pastas mixed with tuna fish, canned in olive oil or fresh. There are combinations up to thirteen dishes for the twelve Apostles plus the Master (Jesus.) I can remember helping to prepare many of the dishes over the years, when the children of the family were very young, they may only have eaten a bite of tuna while the adults ate the dishes you mentioned above, plus other choices. One of my husbands uncles specialities was a Red Gravy with Lobster. Red Gravy is a common traditional reference to what is referred to as tomato sauce or marinara. The lobsters would actually be cooked whole in the simmering sauce, and if you are a lobster lover, it is very nearly heavenly. I learned to prepare many of the dishes, but only prepare a few now as I do not have forty or more people coming back to my house after evening or midnight mass. Everyone is scattered around the world now, and my in laws are celebrating Christmas in Heaven. My husband and I and our children are passing the traditions on, with the blessings and gladness with which they were given to us. Please enjoy the wonder and blessing of Christmas, no matter what traditions you share. God bless you and yours. Merry Christmas and Boun Natale.

Answer 3

It's certainly not a tradition of northern Italy. Although here in the north most people eat many dish fishes at Christmas'eve, it's not called the feast of seven fishes. And the amount of dishes could be less or more than seven. To eat fish instead of meat on 24th December is traditional Catholic.

Answer 4

It represents the sevenfold Gifts of the Holy Spirit-Prophesy, Serving, teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

Answer 5

Seven is considered a holy number. It is God's number.