The Untold Story: Decoding the Intriguing Symbolism of the Seven Fishes in The Bear's Christmas Episode Meal
Uncover the rich history and biblical significance of The Bear's Seven Fishes meal, a cherished Christmas tradition that pays tribute to Donna and the Berzatto family
WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for The Bear's season 2 finale! In the Christmas flashback episode of The Bear season 2, titled "Fishes," Carmy's family is shown celebrating the Feast of the Seven Fishes, an Italian-American tradition. The episode delves into the history of the Berzatto family, exploring their complex dynamics, Carmy's relationship with food and trauma, and the significance of the Seven Fishes meal. The hour-long episode centers around Carmy's mother, Donna Berzatto, portrayed by Jamie Lee Curtis in a cameo appearance, as she cooks seven different types of fish, including lobster. However, tension arises as Donna's dedication to perfection causes arguments with her children, especially Carmy and Sugar. The importance of the Seven Fishes tradition is highlighted, with Carmy even criticizing Sugar's husband for mistakenly bringing an eighth dish. The episode provides insight into the biblical symbolism and the role of the tradition in Italian culture, explaining the Berzatto family's stress surrounding the meal.
The Real Feast Of The Seven Fishes Christmas Tradition & Biblical Meaning Explained
The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a cherished Italian-American Christmas tradition featuring a lavish meal consisting of seven different varieties of fish and seafood. According to Food Network, this tradition originated in Southern Italy and stems from the Roman Catholic practice of abstaining from dairy and meat on Christmas Eve, opting for an abundance of fish instead. While the specific portrayal of the tradition in The Bear is an Italian-American creation, the use of the number seven holds symbolic significance in the Bible. Thus, John Mulaney's character Steven accurately deduces the true meaning behind the meal. The Berzatto family's Italian heritage is of great importance in The Bear's narrative and culinary elements, with the original restaurant focusing on Italian beef and cuisine. In season 2, episode 6 of The Bear, the influence of Italian traditions becomes even more apparent as the Berzattos incorporate the Seven Fishes tradition into their annual Christmas celebrations. The menu of The Bear features some popular dishes from the Feast of the Seven Fishes, including lobster, anchovies, baccala, and linguine with clam sauce.
The Bear's Menu Honors Donna & The Berzatto Family Christmas Meal
Carmy and Sydney collaborate on developing a "chaos" menu for The Bear restaurant during season 2. They include some traditional dishes from Carmy's family holidays, with Seven Fishes being the standout main course, inspired by his mother Donna. However, tension arises when Carmy realizes that the meal has been left cold in the kitchen. As a homage to the Berzatto family's Christmas dinner, Carmy introduces a cannoli dessert, which Marcus names "The Michael" after Carmy's late brother, Mikey.
Despite Carmy's complex relationship with his family, the finale of The Bear's season 2 demonstrates that his approach to the new restaurant is rooted in family and tradition. The restaurant holds significant personal value for each chef involved, with plans to incorporate dishes inspired by Sydney's mother, Marcus's mother, and other chefs like Terry and Luca in the menu for The Bear season 3. Additionally, there will likely be more flashbacks to significant meals that have shaped the characters' culinary careers and personal histories.
Source: Food Network
