By: Kirsten Serrone, Senior
“Buone feste e un felice anno nuovo!” means “happy holidays and a happy New Year” in Italian. See, Italians are very dramatic people that love food and family parties, so there is nothing better than combining the two for a loud, enthusiastic, and spiritual gathering.
Usually, celebrations start before Christmas Eve, with setting up nativity scenes, celebrating the Three Kings' arrival, and the Novena, which is the nine-day journey to Jesus’ crib. These are all very important celebrations to them. The events are full of spirit, tourists, and music, but none compare to the Christmas Eve celebrations with family and friends.
Christmas Eve starts with the Feast of the Seven Fishes. It typically includes fish like tuna, baccala (cod), calamari (squid), salmon, shrimp, swordfish, scallops, and many others. The types of fish always vary, and it sometimes people do more than seven, but the amount represents the seven sacraments. The fact that it is only fish is because of the Roman Catholic tradition to not eat meat before the day of a grand meal. This tradition came from Southern Italy, and it is known as “La Vigilia” (The Vigil), celebrating the wait for midnight for the birth of Jesus. This is just the history of the celebration, but many Italian-Americans celebrate it simply out of tradition as well.
Let it be known, though, that fish is not the only course of the evening. It varies from household-to-household, but there is a typical format. It starts with antipasto, which is always the starter; it translates to “before the meal.” Antipasto contains cured meat, olives, mushrooms, but not pasta. It is usually a snack. Next, you have primo, which can be soup, or a pasta dish and is the appetizer of the courses, and is the first course. Secondo is the main course of meat or fish, depending upon the occasion. Then, there is contorno, which is a side dish of salad or vegetables. The last dish is the dolce, or “sweet” desserts such as cannoli, cookies, cakes, pies, and many other pastries.
It should also be well known that the center of Italian celebrations revolve around the food because the most important thing about the holidays is family and good food. However, there are many other activities that occur, such as church in the evening and typical gift exchanging, but family is what is prioritized most in Italian families, which is why there is plenty of food, music and enthusiasm.
Sources:
The Local. “How to Celebrate Christmas like the Italians.” The Local, The Local, 20 Dec. 2016, www.thelocal.it/20161220/how-to-celebrate-christmas-like-the-italians.
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