The Feast of the Seven Fishes celebrated on Christmas Eve by many Italian-Americans is believed to have originated in southern Italy. This feast generally consists of 7 different seafood dishes, while some families have been known to serve 9, 11 or even 13 different seafood offerings. This celebration dates from the medieval Roman Catholic tradition of abstinence and commemorates the "Wait", Vigilia di Natale, for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus.

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Fried smelts, calamari and other types of seafood have been incorporated into the Christmas Eve dinner over the years. The components of the meal are similar for most families, however, as there is always some combination of anchovies, sardines, dried salt cod, smelts, eels, squid, octopus, shrimp, mussels, and clams. In the mix are also pastas, vegetables, baked or fried kale patties, baked goods and homemade wine. This tradition remains very popular to this day including here in Naples evidently, as we special order and sell large amounts of these fishes here at Captain Jerry's during the Christmas season.