What do WE EAT ON CHRISTMAS EVE und what does CHRISTMAS MEAN TO US?

MANUELA (Veranstaltungs- und Workshopmanagerin), wofür steht für Dich WEIHNACHTEN? Als Wert? Woran will Dich Weinachten jedes Jahr erinnern?

"It may sound simple, but for me, Christmas means family, being together, and caring for one another. This can be done through a gift, but also by spending time with our loved ones or preparing something nice for them. I still remember with great love and warmth the moments we all spent together when I was a child. Even today, Christmas still means exactly that to me: sharing, love, and warmth."

For me (Frank, Pastamadre-Workshop Teacher), Christmas means really looking at what is going on around me. Who or what needs my love and my help, my hand? 

The Christmas story and Christmas Eve are described in a relatively unspectacular way in the Bible. The plight of a young couple expecting a child in the next few hours is succinctly described in the Bible, in the Gospel of Luke. The Gospel of Luke says of Jesus' birth:

"1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2(And this taxing was first made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; because he was of the house and lineage of David: 5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.“

This reminds me of the growing number of beggars and homeless people we encounter on the streets, in train stations, and on trains.

How can it be that in a country as rich as Germany, people have to live on the streets and support themselves by begging and collecting deposit bottles? Germany has the third-largest economy in the world after the US and China. Germany is the largest economy in Europe.

For me, Christmas is a call to take a closer look: Who needs my help? What can I do? For me, Christmas is a call to my compassion for the world.

We wouldn't be PASTAMADRE if Christmas weren't also associated with the question of food for us. In my memories of Christmas with my parents, it was always a "feast." As part of PASTAMADRE and a representative of "poor people's cuisine," I was particularly interested in what traditional dishes are served on Christmas Eve, the night on which, according to the Bible, Jesus was born. In Germany, the typical meal on Christmas Eve is still "potato salad with sausages," and in some regions, sausages with horseradish sauce. This probably goes back to the Christmas fasting period (November 14 to December 24), which is hardly known today. Meat and animal fats should be avoided as much as possible. 

Today, efficiency and cost considerations are often the only factors that matter: it's quick – leaving enough time to prepare the presents and go to church. And it doesn't cost much. The traditional FISH DISH on Christmas Eve is also a reminder of the Christmas fasting period. Italy is known for its "Feast of Seven Fishes," a multi-course fish menu that celebrates the abstinence from meat and animal fats. In many regions, a stew was and is traditionally served on Christmas Eve.

For me, this "simple cuisine" also reminds me of the poverty and hardship in the stable where Mary gave birth to her child on Christmas Eve.

I was curious and wanted to know what our Italian friends serve on Christmas Eve. What did you eat on Christmas Eve when you were a child? What do you serve on Christmas Eve?

Bur friend MAILA, who now lives near Rome, has the following on her table on Christmas Eve:

„"Of course, it's different in every region and every family, but here in Rome, the general rule is that no meat is allowed on the table, only fish. Meat was reserved for Christmas. This tradition continues to this day. So, we serve what are known as ‘fritti’ as antipasti (starters). For example, broccoli fritti, carciofi fritti, cozze gratinate al forno (mussels au gratin from the oven) and filetto di baccalà fritto (fried stockfish fillet). These dishes are fixed, and then there are other dishes that change." Last year, Maila's mom added Insalata russa to the menu.

Next comes the primo, the first course, which for us is usually spaghetti allo scoglio or spaghetti alle vongole, followed by il secondo. This second course is not a second "course" (but more on that in our next newsletter in February) – and everything is always fish-based! Last year, we had coda di rospo con patate (monkfish with potatoes), a very popular dish. Then come the dolci (DESSERT) torrone, pandoro, panettone) ... at the end, you're bursting!

Auch MANUELA habe ich dazu noch einmal gefragt:

"I have to say that the tradition has hardly changed since my childhood: for reasons rooted in the Catholic religion, NO meat is eaten on Christmas Eve. Therefore, fish is the focus of dinner on December 24. The dishes on the table vary, of course, but I'm happy to put together a list of the dishes that are usually prepared in my family:

ANTIPASTI

They are so rich and delicious that they are actually enough to fill you up!

Tartine di tonno o salmone (tuna or salmon canapés)

Insalata di polipo (octopus salad)

Piatti di formaggi misti (mixed cheese platter)

Cocktail di gamberi (shrimp salad)

Olives

Crunchy raw vegetables

Pettole (doughnuts made from water and flour)

FIRST COURSES

Often spaghetti alle vongole e/o cozze (spaghetti with clams and/or mussels)

or pasta al sugo di pesce (pasta with fish sauce)

or risotto allo scoglio (risotto with seafood)

SECONDI

Usually Baccalá fritto o al forno (fried or baked salt cod)

But also:

Spiedini di gamberi e seppie (shrimp and squid skewers)

Pesce arrosto (roasted fish)

Lumachine in umido (stewed snails)

Salad

DOLCI

Pandoro farcito (Stuffed pandoro)

Panettone

Frutta secca (Dried fruit)

Piatti di frutta mista (Mixed fruit platter)

THE FEAST OF THE SEVEN FISH

Maila and Manuela allude to the Christmas fast and the resulting Feast of the Seven Fishes! This fast begins on November 14 and ends on Christmas Day, December 25. A particularly vivid example of the Feast of the Seven Fishes can be found in the truly remarkable film "Green Book" starring Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen. Green Book is based on the life story of Italian-American Tony Lip, who became the chauffeur of African-American pianist Don Shirley in the 1960s—in the final scene, on Christmas Eve, there is a never-ending Feast of Seven Fishes. 

This Festa dei sette pesci (Feast of the Seven Fishes) is an Italian-American celebration of Christmas Eve with dishes made from fish and other seafood. It is not a "feast" in the sense of a "celebration," but rather a very opulent meal. Christmas Eve is the last day of the Christmas fast – and a vigil day. The abundance of seafood reflects the observance of abstinence from meat until the feast day, Christmas Day. This tradition probably originated in southern Italy, where it is known as "La Vigilia" (without mention of the number seven). (I referred to Wikipedia for information on the Feast of the Seven Fishes).

In Berlin, too, it used to be customary to serve fish on Christmas Eve – or at least not to serve meat. My mother tells me that my great-grandmother usually served carp (carp bleu). The family story of the live carp that was kept in the (zinc) bathtub in the kitchen until December 23 is legendary. 

Carp have very large scales. These were collected and distributed on New Year's Eve. They were carried in wallets throughout the year as lucky charms – so that there would always be money in your pocket!

Merry Christmas,

Frank