Christmas in Italy is all about family, and every Christmas Eve the holiday season is celebrated with a customary feast. Although this tradition originated in southern Italy, where it is called La Vigilia (the Vigil), the Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian-American celebration of the birth of Jesus at midnight on Christmas Eve. Where this custom got its name is unknown, as some families prepare up to 12 courses to represent the 12 apostles of Jesus. The overarching theme of the Feast of the Seven Fishes is that none of the courses include meat.

The Feast begins with appetizers and salads followed by heartier fish dishes, pasta, and stews. It ends with palate cleansing sorbets, gelato, and a traditional Italian dessert like biscotti or cannoli.

This Christmas Eve, host a Feast of the Seven Fishes of your very own with our cookbook of the 40 best recipes celebrating this tradition. The Feast of the Seven Fishes cookbook will guide you through seven courses of authentic Italian recipes, with plenty of options for each course so you can customize the menu according to the preferences of your family and friends. Welcome the family to the table with a selection of canapes like Shrimp Cocktail and Seven Fishes Seafood Salad (Courses 1 & 2), Sea Bass Alla Fiorentina (Course 3), Lobster Fra Diavolo and Linguine with Tuna Puttanesca (Courses 4 & 5), and finish the feast with After-Dinner Biscotti, Limoncello Gelato, or Double Chocolate Rum Panettone (Courses 6 & 7).

Start a new holiday tradition this year and make your own Feast of the Seven Fishes. Grab your copy of this cookbook today! Buon Appetito!