The Italian feast of the seven fishes is a tradition celebrated every year in mostly Southern Italy and in Italian-American households throughout the United States. However, one does not have to be Italian to celebrate this tradition. Typical “fishes” include baccalà (salt cod), frutti di mare (shellfish), capitone (eel), calamari (squid), scungilli (conch meat) and vongole (clams). The feast takes place on the eve of Christmas and the number seven may come from the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church, or the seven hills of Rome, or something else. There is no general agreement on its meaning. So to help celebrate this holiday, let’s make some origami fish!
