Feast of the Seven Fishes, or “Festa dei sette pesci”

Dear Friends and Family,

We are excited to announce that Trattoria Appia will be offering a special “La Vigilia Menu” starting from December 12th until Christmas Eve. This menu is inspired by the traditional Italian-American celebration known as the Feast of the Seven Fishes.

The Feast of the Seven Fishes, or “Festa dei sette pesci” in Italian, is a grand meal served on Christmas Eve, featuring dishes of fish and other seafood. This tradition originates from Southern Italy, where it is known as “La Vigilia”. The celebration commemorates the wait, the “Vigilia di Natale”, for the midnight birth of baby Jesus.

The feast typically consists of seven different seafood dishes, although the specific dishes can vary widely. Some well-known dishes include baccalà (salted cod fish), fried smelts, calamari, and many other types of seafood. The number seven may symbolize the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church, the seven hills of Rome, or other significant meanings.

We invite you to join us in celebrating this rich tradition. Our “La Vigilia Menu” will feature a variety of delicious seafood dishes, each prepared with love and respect for this time-honored custom. We look forward to sharing this special tradition with all of you.

Buon Natale e Buone feste,

Dino Di Fante
General Manager