what are the 7 fishes of christmas eve

The Seven Fishes of Christmas Eve refer to the tradition of eating fish on Christmas Eve in Italy and other countries with large Italian-American communities. The tradition dates back to medieval times when Catholics were forbidden from eating meat during the 40 days of Lent. It's believed that the custom of eating fish on Christmas Eve originated as a way to keep the spirit of Lent alive during the festive season. Today, the tradition has evolved to include a variety of seafood dishes, including fried and salted fish, eel, squid, octopus, shellfish, and more.