December 23, 1983: Just days before Christmas, theOliveriofamilyreadiestheirFeastoftheSevenFishes,anItaliantraditionstretchingbacktotheoldcountryofCalabria.Amidstthepreparations,TonyOliverio ,ayoungmanwithbigdreamsandabiggerheart,wondersifhe'llfindlovethisChristmasseasonorspenditalonewithhisloudandlovingfamily-GreatGrandmaNonnie,GrandpaJohnny,GreatUnclesFrankieandCarmine, hisparents,hisbrother,andahostoffriends.WhenSarah,thegirlfriendofhisbestfriendAngelo,introducesTonytoBeth,itlookslikeTony'sholidayexperiencemighttakeaturnforthebetter.ThatisunlessNonn iethinksBethisn'tgoodenoughforhergreat-grandson,andBeth'sIvyLeaguesuitordoesn'tstealherheartfirst.Comeoninside,whereit'swarm,andthesmellsofcookingfishpermeatetheair,andlet'shaveavisit.