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Luxe Prestige Chronicle

traditional christmas eve dinner

Author

Sarah Martinez

Updated on July 27, 2026

One of the more popular Christmas Eve dishes is fish, particularly fish pie. “This is a Catholic tradition related to the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Some Catholics still include seven different fishes in the meal – not difficult if you’re making a pie,” says Brown.

What is Christmas Eve dinner called?

Christmas Eve traditions, including culinary ones, are the combination of ancient pagan customs with religious ones introduced by the Catholic Church, local traditions and various folk cultures. Christmas Eve dinner, also known as Wigilia, starts when the first star appears in the sky.

What dishes are in a traditional Christmas dinner?

These are the top-rated main dish and side dish recipes you need for a perfect traditional Christmas dinner. They cover the savory side of Christmas dinner, from prime rib, baked ham, and roast turkey to scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce.

What are some Christmas Eve traditions?

Christmas Eve Traditions: 17 Things To Do for Magical Family
Open a Gift.Go Look at Christmas Lights.Watch a Special Christmas Movie.Read the Christmas Story in the Bible.Have a Special Christmas Eve Dinner.Play a Family Game.Give a Christmas Eve Box.A Story and Cider.

What are you supposed to do on Christmas Eve?

Top 10 things to do on Christmas Eve
Christmas movie marathon. Play family games. Bake cookies for Santa and the elves. Help with Christmas Eve grazing platter. Open one family gift. Give out secret Santa gifts. Host a family sleepover. Go for a festive walk outdoors.

What are the 7 fishes served on Christmas Eve?

This pasta involves seven fish: clams, mussels, halibut, shrimp, anchovy, calamari and scallops. It’s nice to have a whole fish, head and tail included, to signify abundance.

Why do we eat 7 fishes on Christmas Eve?

Christmas Eve is a vigil or fasting day, and the abundance of seafood reflects the observance of abstinence from meat until the feast of Christmas Day itself. Today, the meal typically consists of seven different seafood dishes. The tradition comes from Southern Italy, where it is known as The Vigil (La Vigilia).

Can you eat meat on Christmas Eve?

While most believe it to be a religious obligation, giving up meat on Christmas Eve is actually more a popular custom. The Catholic Church specifies the days on which meat is to be avoided (seafood doesn’t count as meat), but it doesn’t include the day before Christmas (unless it falls on a Friday).

What are the top 10 Christmas dinner foods?

Top 10 Christmas Dinner Recipes
Classic Bread Stuffing.Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Pecans.Pillsbury™ Tourtière.Roasted Rosemary-Onion Potatoes.Crispy-Coated Lemon-Pepper Salmon.Perfect Apple Pie.Simple Cranberry Sauce.Slow Cooker Wild Rice with Cranberries.

What is the most popular main dish for Christmas dinner?

The #1 pick is roast potatoes, with a win percentage of 76%. Mashed potatoes came in second (75%), and turkey was third (73%)—the only protein in the top five. Check out this top-rated recipe for roasted potatoes.

What are the top 10 Christmas foods?

Here’s a definitive ranking of Christmas-time favorites.
Holiday Sugar Cookies. PIN IT.Mashed Potatoes. PIN IT. Apple Cider. PIN IT. Cranberry Sauce. PIN IT. Stuffing. PIN IT. Gingerbread Man Cookies. Gingerbread cookies are always so cute, but they also can be a hit or miss. Ham. Eggnog.

What is a Christmas Eve box?

Essentially, it’s a box of goodies – an extra gift, if you will, which is given on Christmas Eve. Each person in the family might have their own box, or you can create a family box, which is often cheaper, and gathers you all together.

Why is Christmas Eve a thing?

We celebrate Christmas Eve because Jesus is traditionally thought to have been born at midnight, and we celebrate New Year’s Eve because midnight is when the year changes.

How do adults make Christmas magical?

How to reinvigorate your holiday traditions.
Ditch a tradition that’s become tired or boring. Create a new adult-themed tradition. Create a tradition that connects you with your inner child. Give yourself a gift that will reduce your future stress. Give yourself more time to get things done. Accept non-perfection.