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What foods do Italians eat for holidays and celebrations?

What are the traditional foods Italians eat for holidays and celebrations? I also need to know why each food is important, its significance or meaning... Well, I just need to know the main foods...maybe then the main dishes eaten in the North and South.

Public Comments

1. eel. but they only said that on tv. not sure if it's true.
2. I think your question is too general. Italians, like any other nationality have certain traditional family foods for certain holidays and those foods vary. Even in the Country of Italy, there would be a difference according to the province in which you live. The food in Northern Italy is almost completely opposite of what you would find in Sicily.
3. In Italy, if you walk for 10 Km, eating and dialects change. In my town, for holiday and celebrations, a luxury lunch is: - aperitivo, - antipasto misto di affettati e sottaceti o sottolio, - brodo di gallinaccio con la stracciatella o con la pizza reale, - timballo, - pasta lunga col ragù di carne, - fegatini di gallinaccio splamati sul pane, - alimelle di vitello, - arrosto misto di carni e pollame con patate ( lamb for Easter: it symbolize Jesus ), - pizza dolce, - frutta assortita, - caffè - ammazzacaffè. Too light? ;-D)
4. american children...as dessert and then all together to McDonald to get fat and lazy
5. all italian cuisine is VERY good....i think there isn't another place like ITALY!!!!
6. nobody eats like Italians
7. i come from the north east of italy and for christmas we eat many starters, like bread with different things on it, tortellini, meat a desert and a second desert which is panettone or pandoro. For Easter we eat some starters, lamb, colomba, which is a tipical cake, and a big egg made with chocolate which has a surprise on it
8. Traditional Italians eat 7 different kinds of fish for Christmas. 7 stands for the 7 sacraments in the Catholic religion. Some popular ones are: Calamari, Scungilli (conch), Baccalà (cod), Scampi (shrimp), Clams, Mussels, and a larger fish like snapper. It varies for every family. Mine eats octopus. Many many appetizers is also very important. My easter dinner always includes lamb(im sure there is a religious significance somewhere), and pasta bolognese.