For most of us, Christmas Day is a twenty-four hour stretch of gluttony and reckless abandon – a day to enjoy food, without worrying about the waistline or judgement from the bathroom scales. With that in mind, it makes sense to prepare yourself for the trials ahead with a light meal on Christmas Eve.
That isn't technically the reason why many Italian families eat fish on Christmas Eve, though. The Feast of the Seven Fishes actually harks back to Roman Catholic traditions of abstinence during certain times of the year – Christmas Eve is one of the most important of those, with the day leading up to midnight mass and the celebration of the birth of Christ. Italy is still a predominantly Roman Catholic country, and families all over the country recognise the importance of Christmas with a veritable feast of fish and seafood.
Whether you want to celebrate Christmas in the same way or you’re just looking for some lighter meal ideas to preserve your stomach for the big day, Valeria Necchio's incredible Christmas Eve menu is packed full of inspiration. Take a look!