The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a Mediterranean tradition, usually celebrated Christmas Eve that features a feast of seafood dishes.  In Italy it is called "La Vigilia" or the vigil meal.  The feast is a celebration with many courses of fish and seafood, often including dishes like fried calamari, spaghetti and clams, and baked cod. The "seven" likely refers to the number seven, which has many symbolic meanings in Catholicism, such as the seven sacraments or the seven days of creation, but the number of dishes served can vary widely by family. 

• Celebration and origin: The feast is traditionally celebrated on Christmas Eve before midnight Mass, stemming from the Catholic practice of abstaining from meat on the day before Christmas. 

The "seven" fishes: The number of seafood dishes served can range from seven to more, and the exact types of fish can vary based on family recipes and traditions. Common dishes include salt cod (baccalà), clams, and smelt, though modern versions often include a wider variety of seafood like shrimp, mussels, and lobster.

Symbolism: The number seven has religious significance in Catholicism and is said to represent the seven sacraments or the seven days of creation.