In Italy Christmas Eve's meal is considered a "cena di magro" -- a "light" or "thin" meal as it does not include any meat. Actually, most meals in the countryside prior to World War II did not include meat as it was too expensive. So everyday meals were also "cena di magro." At that time the Catholic Church prohibited the eating of meat on Fridays and certain religious holidays (e.g. Christmas Eve and Good Friday) and Italians obeyed. On Christmas Eve most Italians served fish -- bacala, salt cod, in particular. This was considered a delicacy as fish on the mainland was rather expensive, and so most people looked forward to the meal. In some areas of Italy snails and frogs were also popular.... Everyone knows that Christmas provided Italians with a good excuse to party and cook up a storm. Of course, Italians also knew Christmas was a time for prayer and contemplation. Still, the food played (and still plays) a big part of Italians' celebration of Jesus Christ's birth....

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