Christmas traditions

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A variety of fish dishes served on Christmas Eve.

Where does the ‘Feast of the 7 Fishes’ Christmas Eve tradition come from?

Dec 24, 2025

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

The Feast of the Seven Fishes stems from the southern part of Italy and spans generations. Read more

Latest news

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa is the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem: ‘God does not wait for history to improve before entering into it’

Fresco of the Holy Family in Dobling Carmelite Monastery in Vienna, Austria. The Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Family this year on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025.

The 8 days of Christmas? A look at the Christmas octave

Pope Leo XIV delivers his Christmas "Urbi et Orbi" message at the Vatican on December 25, 2025.

Pope Leo XIV highlights Gaza, Yemen, migrants in first Christmas Urbi et Orbi message

Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby on All Saints Day’ 2025.

PHOTOS: Pope Leo meets the tiniest members of the flock — babies

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on December 25, 2025.

Pope, at Christmas Day Mass, says wars fed by falsehoods send young people to their deaths

The Shrine of Santa Maria della Consolazione in Deliceto, Italy, where St. Alphonsus Liguori was inspired to write and compose the famous Italian Christmas carol, “Tu Scendi dalle Stelle,” in 1744.

The story behind Italy’s favorite Christmas carol

Pope Leo XIV venerates a statue of the child Jesus during the celebration of Christmas Mass during the Night in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24, 2025.

Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s Christmas night homily

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Christmas Mass during the Night in a packed St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24, 2025.

Pope Leo XIV on Christmas night: Make room for others

Archbishop Bernard Bober of Košice celebrates Mass with homeless and people in need at the Archdiocesan Charity in Košice, Slovakia, during a traditional Christmas gathering in December 2025.

Christmas reversed in Slovakia: Why the homeless gave this archbishop a gift

Field visit in the disaster zone in December 2025: Father Fredy Rante Taruk (executive director of Caritas Indonesia), and Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin, OSC, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia.

Catholic Church responds to deadly Indonesia floods as leaders warn of environmental crisis

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Dec 25
The Nativity of The Lord - Christmas
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