Each year on Christmas Eve, Italian American families gather to celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes - a grand marathon of a meal comprised of multiple courses of seafood served over several hours. It is a celebration of food, with strange sea creatures such as baccalà (salt cod), capitone (eel) and scungilli (sea snail) making their annual appearance at the dining table. It is a celebration of tradition, with recipes and cooking methods handed down from one generation to the next. But most importantly, it is a celebration of love and being together with family. It is a cherished event for many Italian Americans, full of the warmth and joy that comes from being surrounded by family on Christmas Eve, while dining on a bounty of delectable fish dishes which - like Santa Claus - comes just once a year.This book describes the rich history of the Feast of the Seven Fishes and provides 30 detailed recipes for preparing the Feast, along with illustrations and full color pictures. A book for anyone who loves seafood, cooking, and holiday celebrations.