Traditional Seven Fish Christmas Eve Dinner

How do Italians celebrate Christmas and what is the food for the occasion? The Feast of the Seven Fishes (festa dei sette pesci),  celebrated on Christmas Eve, also known as The Vigil (La Vigilia), is believed to have originated in Southern Italy.   This celebration is a commemoration of the wait, Viglia di Natal for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus.

We always frame our dinner menu so everyone knows what is coming up next

So why fish?  Being predominantly a Catholic country, traditions and food are tied with the significance of the festivity. One of these, especially observed in Rome and in the South of Italy, is to eat fish on Christmas Eve.  One reason is believed to date back to the medieval Roman Catholic tradition of fast and abstinence on Fridays, (the day in which Jesus Christ was crucified) and other specific holy days of the year, when meat or dairy products are banned from the table, because of their content of fat, which makes them rich types of food, therefore non proper for the occasion.  Fish was considered a leaner food by the Catholics, typically cooked using olive oil instead of other fats.  So why seven fishes?  Seven is a symbolic number reported several times in the Bible, Christianity (and other religions as well), and can be related to the seven days of Creation, the seven Sacraments. There is also a "Thirteen Fish Dinner" tradition observed in some parts of Italy, twelve plus one type of fish for each of the twelve Christ's Apostles, considered "Fishers of Men" (ok...not for me...it’s hard enough to come up with seven fishes for one dinner).  Years ago, after the long dinner, the desserts and the sparkling wine, everybody would go to the Midnight Mass to celebrate Baby Jesus birth. Then they would all return back home to open the presents.

No matter how many fish dishes you make, the important thing is fish being the main ingredient of each course of the dinner, which takes place in the late evening (our celebration begins at 4pm...you need that much time to just eat this many courses). We serve each course separately and in a planned sequence.  On our menu each fish is numbered.  All of this is done in a relaxed and festive atmosphere (this is why we prepare so many days in advance...so that we can appear relaxed), waiting for Midnight (ok...no one ever makes it until Midnight in our home...we have alot of young kids...and even more tired adults...10pm max).  Gifts are opened on Christmas morning.

Here is our menu close up:

Christmas Eve Dinner 2010

Feast of the Seven Fishes “La Vigilia”

Antipasto and Formagio

Brick Oven Pizza

***

PRIMO PIATTO

Shrimp Cocktail (Pesce #1)

Fried Calamari and Marinara Sauce (Pesce #2)

Smoked Salmon and Horseradish Cream with Capers and Dill (Pesce #3)

Clams Oreganato (Pesce #4)

***

SECONDO PIATTO

Lobster Bisque (Pesce #5)

Mussels in White Wine with Garlic and Parsley (Pesce #6)

Baked Ziti

Filet of Sole Oreganato and Baked Flounder (Pesce #7)

Sautéed Broccoli

Caesar Salad and Bread

***

DOLCE

Cakes, Cookies, Nuts

Coffee and Tea

Framing your menu is a simple but elegant way of letting your guests know what is to come next.  With this many courses it's nice to let people know they should pace themselves.  Do you celebrate the traditional seven fish dinner?  Do you have other traditions for Christmas Eve?  I'd love to hear. 

-Judy

Christmas Dining Room

As you know, we are hosting Christmas Eve.  We are having 16 adults and 10 kids for a traditional Italian seven fish meal.  I will post our menu later this week.  In order to make Christmas Eve run smoothly, I like to do as much as I can prior to Friday.  So this weekend it was time to get our dining room ready for Christmas Eve dinner.

Here is the finished product.  Let me show you exactly how I achieved this look.

This is what my dining room looked like before I started it's mini-transformation.  The first thing I did was enlist my husband's help for a bit and open up the table, add another leaf, and add all of the table pads.

Early Saturday morning I started this process by going to Home Goods to get some "supplies".  First things first...a new tablecloth.  I wanted a neutral backdrop to my tablescape.

I find it's easiest to just iron the tablecloth on the table.  The tablecloth I purchased is 120" long.

This centerpiece I bought that morning at Home Goods as well.  I had a basic idea as to what I wanted to achieve, but things got tweaked along the way.  I needed this piece elevated a little bit.  I used a box that I had gotten my bare essentuals makeup in.  It was in the right colors.

It needed something...so I went to my fabric stash and found this fabric.  I had bought a yard of it years ago but never ended up using it.  I laid it on the table, tucking it under to hide the raw edges.

I had also bought some very large glass jars at Home Goods.  Home Goods is such a perfect place to get these.  I bought three.  Two were $9.99 and the other one was $14.99.  For some reason not only did these have the Home Goods tag, they also had an electronic tag (maybe from when it was in another store) plus two more labels on each.  Hubby...more help please.  He was sweet enough to clean those jars up for me while I continued to set my Christmas table.

Image from Pottery Barn

These are similar jars from Pottery Barn...difference is these range from $59-$79 each.  I didn't spend that much on all three of mine combined.

I didn't like how the candle centerpiece looked just on the box.  I went into the storage closet to see what we hadn't used for Christmas and found this small wreath.  As it turned out the box fit perfectly in the center of the wreath.

I took my new jars and filled two of them with different ornaments.  One I filled with gold and burgundy colored ornaments.  The other I filled with smaller multi-colored ornaments.  They weren't large enough to fill the entire jar...so I took some more fabric...a dark green silk, put the silk in the jar and then arranged the ornaments around it.  I used red ribbon and tied a bow on each of the jars.

While in the storage room I found this greenery.  I put it behind the third jar on the buffet table.  I used a sample piece of green silk I had lying around and literally stuffed it in the jar and added a candle on top.

I added four more crystal candle sticks which I had in a cabinet.  I use battery operated candles and tea lights.  I have way too much going on to remember I have candles burning.  This way I can keep it lit all night, nothing gets black, and I don't have to worry.

up close picture of jar with silk fabric and ornaments

up close of jar with gold and burgundy ornaments

Next...the plates.  I have a set of basic white plates for when we entertain large groups (or for when I don't want to hand wash my good china after a party).  It is service for twenty-four.

For each place setting, I  folded a napkin and laid it in the center of the plate.  I decided I would tie a ribbon around each of the napkins.  I tied the ribbon around the napkin and took my scissors and cut the end.   OOPS...

HUBBY...ouch!!!  I snipped my finger as well.  After that I cut all of the ribbons first and then tied them on.

Oh so festive.

The room during the day...and at night.

I'm excited to have the dining room done.  There are a few more things I may add if I have time.  If I do, I will be sure to share.  Let me know what you think.  I love and appreciate your comments.  Thanks.

-Judy

Christmas Home Tour

First I would like to thank everyone who has become a follower of my blog.  I hit 100 followers yesterday.  I really appreciate all of the support.  It's been amazing getting to know so many new people.  I look forward to even more of you following me.

I've been showing you bits and pieces of our home decorated for Christmas.  Here is my official Christmas home tour.

Our tree is in our Great Room for all to see.  You can see it from the time you enter our front door.  Over 1000 white lights cover the tree.

Ornaments collected through the years adorn the tree.  Each one has it's own special meaning.

The angel watches over and protects.  The paper mache mouse is over thirty years old.  You can see more of my tree here.

Bows I have made from wired ribbon and floral wire are spread throughout my home.  You can learn how to make these bows here.

My favorite little Santa Claus.  My son reminded me that we bought this Santa last year on Christmas Eve at the Christmas Tree shop.  We were out buying last minute plates and napkins and saw him.  He was on clearance as it was Christmas Eve.  I love his colors.

My mantle is decorated with garland, flowers and more bows.  It is also strung with white lights.  The sugared topiaries on either end of the mantle are the perfect finishing touch.  You can see more of my mantle here.

  My kids created these little houses out of kits from Michaels.  The little people nativity set was brought by Santa years ago when my kids were very little.  They still love the idea of having their own nativity set.  It's nice to have one for your kids that they can play with.

This is my nativity set...the ones the kids can't play with.  My husband gave this to me when we were first married.

Of course let's not forget the train that runs around the tree.

Our staircase greets guests with Christmas spirit as soon as they enter.  See how you can see our tree in the Great Room from the front entry.

We have been collecting these snowmen from Hallmark for the past five or so years.  So fun.  Each one plays it's own song.

With only eleven days until Christmas, are you ready?  I'm getting closer...but I'm not there yet.  Let me know what you think.  I always love and appreciate your comments.  Thanks.

-Judy

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The Nester
No Minimalist Here

Christmas in the living room

This is my parents Christmas tree.  It sits in the front of their large bay window in their living room and at night when it is all lit up, you can see it from the street. What a welcoming sight. 

Look at how the village is lit up from below with a spotlight.

I love the village they have created under the tree.  They created multiple layers and covered it all in "snow".  The lighted Christmas tree was given to my mom years ago by a favorite Aunt.  The house to the far right in the back I made at a ceramics studio twenty years ago.  The three snowman in the front right were mine and my brothers (I have twin brothers one year younger than me).  The white one was mine growing up.

I love this chandelier near the piano.  I love how it reflects in the mirror and how you can see the entire room.

On Christmas morning we all gather at my parents house and sit around the tree with our spouses and children.  My kids are 13 and 10, my brother's children and 8 and 6 and my other brother has 20 month old twins. We all have our "assigned" spots either on the large sectional sofa or around it.   For some reason from year to year, we all sit/stand in the same spot. Kinda funny.

This is the other side of their living room.  I love this desk.  The desk chair was just recently reupholstered.  The chair was originally from Fortunoff.  My parents teach ballroom dancing.  The statue on the desk is just perfect.

This lamp is almost fifty years old.  That is the original lamp shade.  I have always loved that lamp...isn't the shade so cool?

I made this pillow out of extra fabric from the window treatments and trim from Calico Corners.

Love these pillows as well.  Most of the fabric is from Calico Corners.

The other side of the living room.

I'm linking up to Sarah's Christmas Tree Party.  Come check it out.  

-Judy

From Coat Rack to Christmas Tree

Do you have a coat rack in your entryway?  If so, here's an idea on how you can decorate it for the holidays.  

This started as the wooden coat rack in my parents foyer. 

They were going to put a small Christmas tree in this spot when they thought...why not just decorate the coat rack?  They used garland and white lights and wrapped it around the rack.  They then added ornaments and bows and finally topped it with the angel that used to be on our tree when I was a child.

With a beautiful wreath on the coat closet door...the foyer is complete.

What a clever idea.  Have you decorated anything out of the norm?  Please share if you have.  What do you think of this idea?  Let me know.  I love and appreciate all of your comments.

-Judy