what is the meaning of the seven fishes at christmas

The tradition of eating seven fishes on Christmas Eve originated in Southern Italy and is believed to have originated as a way to symbolize the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church. The meal traditionally consists of several types of fish and seafood, including baccala (dried cod), eel, anchovies, and shellfish such as shrimp, clams, and mussels. It is believed that the tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, when Catholics were encouraged to fast and abstain from meat on the day before Christmas. Today, the tradition is still observed by many Italian-American families.