‘Twas the day before Christmas and all through the kitchen,
Seven dishes were cookin’, each with a fish in.
Crab, clam, calamari and cod,
Just creatures of fin and shell got the nod.
When the revelers finish their lobster and smelts,
Each will have loosened a notch on their belts.
– Suzanne Zimmer Lowery
Holiday celebrations are times of fun, family, friends and food. Whatever the tradition is at your house, I’m sure a lot of planning and preparations are happening right now. When I think of the many ways folks celebrate, the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve comes to mind.
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Italian American holiday based on southern Italian traditions. It is generally held on Christmas Eve. Some say it’s from the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. Others claim it is a reference to the seven hills of Rome. For many Italians, Christmas Eve is a fasting day — they keep a vigil, waiting for the birth of Jesus. There is no meat eaten until Christmas Day, so fish and seafood is served. However, every family has their own traditions for this feast and they vary greatly.
One person who makes such a feast is LeAnne Grillo. She sits on the Steering Committee of Harpswell Aging at Home and heads up Cooking at 43° North’s Kitchen Cabinet. (That’s the group that plans our events.) She is a natural leader and organizer, and she brings those skills to the table in her efforts to enhance the quality of life in our community. Those skills are only eclipsed by her compassion and empathy for other people. Many would say Harpswell is a better place because of her presence here.