According to Diane DiPiero. Yahoo! Contributor Network, there are several rituals that Clevelanders participate in every year. Do to the rich heritages the Cleveland embraces, here a few rituals that appear every year at this time:
Feast of the Seven Fishes
Even a die-hard fish lover might get a little squeamish at the sight of a traditional Italian Christmas Eve dinner. But those of Italian heritage know that the Feast of the Seven Fishes signifies the beginning of the Christmas holiday. Traditionally, the seven fish are baccala (dried cod), boiled squid, boiled shrimp, steamed clams, boiled crab, baked flounder and steamed mussels or oysters. If you've managed to have at least a bite of each, you've earned your dessert, typically panatone served with espresso. You can host your own Feast of Seven Fishes, or a variation with just a few varieties. Local Italian specialty stores in Cleveland will be stocking up on cod, squid and other fish in time for Dec. 24. Among them are Alesci's in South Euclid and Gallucci's in Cleveland.
The Chocolate Christmas Hippo
Never heard of this one? That's because it's fairly new. Last year, Baker Candies in Cleveland introduced the chocolate hippo in time for the holidays. The candymaker was approached by a customer who asked them to make a sweet treat to honor his mother's least favorite holiday song, "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas." The customer's mother loves Christmas but hates the commercialization of it. Proceeds from hippo sales last year, which totaled about $5,000, went to two charities. This year, the hippo is back, and so is the philanthropic sentiment behind it. Money raised will go to the local Wounded Warrior chapter.
Upside-down Christmas trees
According to legend, the upside-down Christmas tree was created so specialty shops could display delicate ornaments and decorations in a minimum of space. But those of Eastern European descent might know that the earliest Christmas trees there were displayed upside down. Christians in Poland and what is now Slovakia began this tradition in the 7th or 8th century. The story goes that St. Boniface hung a fir tree upside down to represent the Holy Trinity with the shape of the tree mimicking a cross. Today, you can actually buy artificial upside-down trees, or you can admire the decorated example displayed this season outside North Royalton United Methodist Church. A variety of other trees will also be on display throughout the season to celebrate Christmas tree traditions.
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