I began dating my wife in November the year I met her, and she invited me to Christmas Eve dinner with her family.
My grandmother was Italian, so the feast wasn’t a total surprise, but...I fell into the trap of feeling as though I had to eat everything put in front of me...out of politeness.
It damn near killed me. I was so distended, I really did feel like I was going to bust. It was so bad, I never made that mistake again. I politely but firmly refused the offers of more food in the future, and I never had that same kind of experience again.
Plus,there was a lot of food that wasn’t up my alley, yet I ate it to be polite. THAT was how much I loved the girl I had been dating just over a month...:)
You know I am an Italian, as was my first wife.. I’m assuming that your bride is an Italian, so you have my condolences.. You are on target about keeping your head when confronted with Italian hospitality, especially on the holidays..
The only way the food will stop coming is when you pass out, become rude, or pull a weapon.. That said, I miss the traditions, as bizarre as they often were.. Buon Natale!