Toronto and the GTA have one of the largest Italian communities outside Italy, and Christmas is when the traditions shine: the Vigilia seafood feast on Christmas Eve, towering panettone, torrone and long family lunches on Christmas Day. Here’s how to celebrate an Italian Christmas in Toronto.
The Feast of the Seven Fishes (La Vigilia)
On Christmas Eve, many Italian families skip meat and serve a multi-course seafood dinner, often called the Feast of the Seven Fishes. Typical dishes include baccalà (salt cod), fried smelts and calamari, shrimp, clams with linguine, octopus salad and baked fish.
Where to buy seafood
- St. Lawrence Market: fishmongers take Christmas orders for baccalà, shellfish and whole fish. St. Lawrence Market at Christmas
- Italian and Portuguese fish shops in Little Italy, Little Portugal, Woodbridge and Etobicoke stock salt cod and specialty seafood in December.
- Order early: the week before Christmas Eve is the busiest of the year for fishmongers.
Eating out
Several Italian restaurants in Toronto offer Feast of the Seven Fishes set menus on or before Christmas Eve. Book early. Christmas Eve dinner in Toronto
Panettone, pandoro and torrone
Bakeries and Italian grocers across the city sell local and imported panettone and pandoro from November. Christmas bakeries in Toronto
Where to go
- Little Italy (College Street) and Corso Italia (St. Clair West): Italian bakeries, cafés and grocers.
- Woodbridge (Vaughan): the heart of the GTA’s Italian community, with bakeries and specialty stores. Vaughan Christmas events
- Eataly Toronto in Yorkville for imported Italian Christmas foods.
Italian Christmas traditions explained
- La Vigilia (Christmas Eve): a meatless seafood feast, often seven dishes, though the number varies by family and region.
- Il Presepe: the nativity scene, often elaborate and handed down through generations, set up in homes and churches.
- Christmas Day lunch (pranzo di Natale): a long family meal with pasta (lasagna or tortellini in brodo), roasted meats and plenty of dessert.
- Santo Stefano (December 26): another day of family visits and leftovers.
- La Befana (January 6): on the Epiphany, a kindly witch brings sweets to good children and coal to naughty ones.
Italian Christmas sweets to try
- Panettone: a tall, airy sweet bread with candied fruit and raisins from Milan.
- Pandoro: a star-shaped golden cake from Verona, dusted with icing sugar.
- Torrone: nougat with almonds or hazelnuts.
- Struffoli: little fried dough balls glazed with honey and sprinkles, a Neapolitan favourite.
- Pizzelle: thin, crisp waffle cookies.
- Cannoli and sfogliatelle from Italian bakeries.
Order traditional sweets early from bakeries in Little Italy, Corso Italia and Woodbridge, as they sell out before Christmas. See Christmas bakeries in Toronto.
Shopping for an Italian Christmas
- Corso Italia on St. Clair Avenue West and Little Italy on College Street are lined with Italian delis, bakeries and cafés.
- Woodbridge in Vaughan has a large Italian community with specialty grocers and bakeries.
- St. Lawrence Market for seafood, cheeses and cured meats.
Visit fishmongers early in the week before Christmas for the best selection of baccalà (salt cod), shellfish and calamari.
Italian Christmas in Toronto: FAQ
What is the Feast of the Seven Fishes? An Italian-American and Italian-Canadian tradition of serving several seafood dishes on Christmas Eve.
Where can I buy panettone in Toronto? Italian bakeries and delis in Little Italy, Corso Italia and Woodbridge, plus many grocery stores in December.
More: Christmas in Little Italy · Christmas Eve dinner
Christmas Mass
Many Italian parishes celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses in Italian. Christmas services in Toronto
More: holiday traditions in Toronto · Christmas dining in Toronto
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