But for many Italian families, it’s a day, or night, for fish. The rules of this Christmas Eve Dinner are simple: no meat, lots of fish, and a whole lot of cooking. So what does it all mean?

Christmas in Italy is a time for celebration, and with food playing such an important role in global holiday traditions, it’s no surprise that feasting is central to Italian Christmas.

For dessert, Orange Sorbetto and an Italian-inspired Cookie Tin ... two-story townhouse in the West Village, for a Christmas Eve $165 prix-fixe dinner menu. Offerings include Salad Lyonnaise ...