Many people have a pretty fixed idea of what Christmas Dinner looks like. It has to have the same Brussel sprouts. The same cranberry sauce. The same dry turkey. Yet for Jewish people, December 25th means something entirely different - Chinese food!
More Than A Stereotype
In a 2010 senate hearing, US Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan was asked what she did on Christmas day.
"Like all Jews,” she responded, “I was probably at a Chinese restaurant”.
Peking duck and Chicken Chow Mein don’t usually come up when you google poultry recipes for Christmas Dinner. However, for thousands of Jewish Americans, their favourite Christmas present comes in a Chinese take out box.
This modern tradition of Chinese food for Christmas actually has its roots in New York. At the turn of the century, Manhattan was becoming a melting pot. People came to the island from all over the world, bringing with them different cultures, religions and most importantly food! Neighbourhoods such as the Lower East Side saw great numbers of new Jewish migrants. But importantly, in many of these areas where Jews had settled, Chinese families were also thriving.
It didn’t take long for these different groups to get curious about the sights and smells coming from their neighbours’ kitchens. The first evidence of this mixing of food cultures dates back to 1899, when the American Hebrew journal criticized Jews for succumbing to some very tempting (and very non-kosher) Chinese food!
New Pork State Of Mind
Surprisingly, Chinese food proved to be well suited to the palate of the Jewish New Yorkers who had recently migrated from Eastern Europe. Firstly, under Judaism it is forbidden for dairy and meat to be consumed together, but you will struggle to find a Chinese recipe that mixes the two. Secondly, many of the non-kosher foods present in Chinese food were minced very finely or concealed well enough to be eaten openly by Jews without judgement. This concept became known as ‘Safe-Treyf’ (from the Hebrew word for Non-Kosher).
So while traditional Eastern European deli foods such as pastrami sandwiches and borscht remained the staple at home, many Jews saw Chinese food as an exciting alternative. And yet, this still doesn’t answer the question – why do Jewish Americans eat Chinese food for Christmas?
"Historically, a lot of businesses were closed on Sundays because of the Christian calendar," Plaut told VOA
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The American Jewish habit of eating at Chinese restaurants on Christmas is a common stereotype portrayed in film and television, but has a factual basis as the tradition may have arisen from the lack of other open restaurants on Christmas Day.
Immigrants from cultures that don't typically celebrate Christmas found they had time off to spend with family, but no traditions of their own. Chinese restaurants were open on Christmas day and offered an inclusive, welcoming environment. So a century-long love affair was born!
Peking duck and Chicken Chow Mein don't usually come up when you google poultry recipes for Christmas Dinner. However, for thousands of Jewish Americans, their favourite Christmas present comes in a Chinese take out box. This modern tradition of Chinese food for Christmas actually has its roots in New York.
You can bond by playing games, watching movies, or just simply relaxing with each other. It is also a common tradition among Jews on Christmas to go out for Chinese food, as many Chinese restaurants remain open. This is fun to do with your friends and family, and you can enjoy a delicious meal.
After the Parkers had their turkey eaten by their neighbor's poorly-behaved bloodhounds the family went out to eat at the only restaurant that was open: a Chinese American restaurant.
It usually includes Qidreh, a wood-fire oven cooked lamb and rice dish as well as Malfouf, ground lamb and rice rolled in cabbage leaves. For something sweet, Mamoul (butter cookies) filled with ajweh (date paste).
Chinese food itself was accepted because many Jews believed (or chose to believe) that egg rolls and their ilk were kosher. “There are no Christian symbols on the walls,” Plaut said. “There's no mixing of meat and dairy, and the pork that is evident is hidden.
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Hanukkah starts on the 25th day of Kislev, the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar. It is celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting as well as playing dreidel, singing songs and preparing delicious food. It is a fun time for children, as they will receive gifts and Hanukkah money called gelt.
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Introduction: My name is Van Hayes, I am a thankful, friendly, smiling, calm, powerful, fine, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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