Ed, your family celebrated Christmas in special ways, all pitching in with all the fish and eels. I learned a lot about the eel and their travel from the deep sea and the return to die. Now pigs feet, I think a long walk away from POPS when he was enjoying his delicacy and a breath of fresh air.
Ed, As usual, your memories are is filled with the warmth of family. Those thoughts of your traditional Christmas feast are heart warming, even with the thought of eating pig's feet and eels. Having been 'jerked up' in Texas, I have never eaten pig's feet but I think my father once said he had done so. As for eels, I had never had them until I came to RI in the 1960s. I've only had them once but have to say that I really enjoyed them. I had a great friend who was Italian and often sat at his table where his wife would offer up all manner of Italian dishes; all of which I relished. They would describe their traditional Italian Christmas feast of fishes. Made my mouth water and a bit envious at such a wonderful tradition. Thank you and I hope you will still enjoy such a a sumptuous feast this Christmas. John & Bev
Always enjoy your family stories and sensory details. I can feel the pride and happiness from mom and aunts, smell the odor of cook fish, squirm at the description of slippery eels, and see the pleasure derived from dad devouring his special treat: Pigs Feet!
Ah, yes...the eels! Your piece jogged my memory...haven't eaten them in more than 30 years. For La Vigilia, Mom fried some, and some were served as a salad, with wine vinegar or lemon juice...can't recall.
I recall much of what you so accurately describe Ed. Being finicky as a young girl I didn't try most of it. Today that's all changed as I'll eat it all....not sure about eels though. The recent Italian American Historical Society's La Vigilia celebration brought back memories of Christmas eve family gatherings with their luscious bacula salad to start red and white clam pastas fish entree tasty wandi's and great Christmas music. Much like your sentimental memory. Thanks so much!
Thanks, Mary. Much has changed, but not my distaste for eels. I've been to the IAHS Vigilia dinner in the past. It's great. Sorry to have missed it this year.
Good morning Dr.Ed. When I began dating my wife, who is Swedish, we spent our first Christmas Eve at my house. I never could fathom eating eels. However, to my surprise, my future wife began eating them and matched my dad, eel for eel. I was pleasantly surprised.
It’s amazing how young families today search to replicate those feasts. Too bad, many families are torn apart by petty jealousies.
And remember Tolstoy 's writing . . . All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way” is the opening line of Leo Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina.
Are you saying "Time eels all wounds?"
OMG, I suddenly developed a taste for eels. Much better than your joke ( which I love)
Try the tripe next time
Lovely!!!
Merry Christmas to the both of you❤️❤️❤️❤️
Love you, Laurie. Un grande abbraccio... big hug.
Merry Christmas
Ed, your family celebrated Christmas in special ways, all pitching in with all the fish and eels. I learned a lot about the eel and their travel from the deep sea and the return to die. Now pigs feet, I think a long walk away from POPS when he was enjoying his delicacy and a breath of fresh air.
Buon Natale
Yes, many a celebration, Peter. They celebrated their good fortune in this country, adding a splash of Italian culture.
Pigs Feet? Nah . . .
Ed, As usual, your memories are is filled with the warmth of family. Those thoughts of your traditional Christmas feast are heart warming, even with the thought of eating pig's feet and eels. Having been 'jerked up' in Texas, I have never eaten pig's feet but I think my father once said he had done so. As for eels, I had never had them until I came to RI in the 1960s. I've only had them once but have to say that I really enjoyed them. I had a great friend who was Italian and often sat at his table where his wife would offer up all manner of Italian dishes; all of which I relished. They would describe their traditional Italian Christmas feast of fishes. Made my mouth water and a bit envious at such a wonderful tradition. Thank you and I hope you will still enjoy such a a sumptuous feast this Christmas. John & Bev
Thank you, John and Bev. Ah, unfortunately, the sumptuous seven-fish feast is diminishing nowadays.
Yes, we will have a nice dinner at our son's on Christmas Day. Pigs feet? Nah.
Merry Christmas
Always enjoy your family stories and sensory details. I can feel the pride and happiness from mom and aunts, smell the odor of cook fish, squirm at the description of slippery eels, and see the pleasure derived from dad devouring his special treat: Pigs Feet!
Merry Christmas Dr. Ed,
Lora K
Fun days, Lora. I never got the taste for pigs' feet or eels. I just did not like the way they looked.
Merry Christmas . . .
Ah, yes...the eels! Your piece jogged my memory...haven't eaten them in more than 30 years. For La Vigilia, Mom fried some, and some were served as a salad, with wine vinegar or lemon juice...can't recall.
Merry Christmas!
Never did it, Joanne. Just could not get the image out of my mind.
But, spaghetti with clams . . . another story.
Un Grande Abbraccio
Buon Natale
Altrettanto! Or, in Napolitan/Amalfitan dialact.....Lo stesso a te!
I recall much of what you so accurately describe Ed. Being finicky as a young girl I didn't try most of it. Today that's all changed as I'll eat it all....not sure about eels though. The recent Italian American Historical Society's La Vigilia celebration brought back memories of Christmas eve family gatherings with their luscious bacula salad to start red and white clam pastas fish entree tasty wandi's and great Christmas music. Much like your sentimental memory. Thanks so much!
Thanks, Mary. Much has changed, but not my distaste for eels. I've been to the IAHS Vigilia dinner in the past. It's great. Sorry to have missed it this year.
Buon Natale
Good morning Dr.Ed. When I began dating my wife, who is Swedish, we spent our first Christmas Eve at my house. I never could fathom eating eels. However, to my surprise, my future wife began eating them and matched my dad, eel for eel. I was pleasantly surprised.
It’s amazing how young families today search to replicate those feasts. Too bad, many families are torn apart by petty jealousies.
Merry Christmas!!
I never made the eels "jump" Mike. Good for you.
And remember Tolstoy 's writing . . . All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way” is the opening line of Leo Tolstoy's novel Anna Karenina.
Ah well. Merry Christmas
Ed, same at my house on Home Ave in Mt. Pleasant. My Grandparents lived upstairs from
us and their apartment was kind of small and Christmas Eve feast was served in the combination
kitchen/dining room. There would be about 15 Aunts and Uncles and cousins crammed into
it. Everyone talking at once! How I miss that! I'll never forget the first time I saw the eel,
my Grandmother opened the oven door and there it was.... 50 tears later I can still see it!
She and my Grandfather would do all the traditional fishes and my Uncle who lived on Wisdom Ave would make fresh snail salad. How I miss those times!
Yes, they were memorable days, Tom. A special simplicity