Editing Christmas Eve (section)

=== Italy ===
{{main|Christmas in Italy}}
[[File:Feast of the Seven Fishes 11 (6517353129).jpg|thumb|[[Cannoli]] served at the [[Feast of the Seven Fishes]]]]

[[Christmas in Italy]]  is one of the [[public holidays in Italy|country's major holidays]] and begins on 8 December, with the [[Feast of the Immaculate Conception]], the day on which traditionally the [[Christmas tree]] is mounted and ends on 6 January, of the following year with the [[Epiphany (holiday)|Epiphany]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=25 November 2013|title=The Best Christmas Traditions in Italy|url=https://www.walksofitaly.com/blog/things-to-do/christmas-traditions-in-italy|access-date=26 January 2021|website=Walks of Italy|language=en-GB}}</ref> According to tradition, the Christmas Eve dinner must not contain meat. It is quite common to attend [[Midnight Mass]] on Christmas Eve and practice the old custom of abstinence from meat on the day (but not fasting, which is observed by the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]).  Traditions regarding the exchanging of gifts vary from region to region, as this may take place either on Christmas Eve or on Christmas Day. On 24 December, Christmas Eve, the Christmas night mass, also called [[Midnight Mass]], is celebrated.

While other Christian families throughout the world celebrate the Christmas Eve meal with various meats, Italians (especially Sicilians) celebrate the traditional [[Catholic]] "[[Feast of the Seven Fishes]]" which was historically served after a 24-hour fasting period. Although Christmas fasting is no longer a popular custom, some [[Italian-Americans]] still enjoy a meatless Christmas Eve feast<ref name="RachaelRay">{{cite web |url=http://www.rachaelray.com/2007/11/feast-of-seven-fishes-a-sicilian-christmas-eve-tradition |title=Feast of Seven Fishes – A Sicilian Christmas Eve Tradition |publisher=Rachael Ray Digital LLC |year=2014 |access-date=14 November 2014 |quote=Sicilians traditionally celebrate Christmas Eve with a "Feast of Seven Fishes" which was historically served after a 24-hour fasting period. Although pre-Christmas fasting is not a popular custom still practiced by Italian-Americans, many still enjoy a meatless Christmas Eve feast. |archive-date=10 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110054639/http://www.rachaelray.com/2007/11/feast-of-seven-fishes-a-sicilian-christmas-eve-tradition |url-status=dead }}</ref> and attend the Midnight Mass. In various cultures, a festive dinner is traditionally served for the family and close friends in attendance, when the first star (usually [[Sirius]]) appears in the sky.