Here’s Why Jewish People Eat Chinese Food On Christmas
If you visit your favorite Chinese restaurant on Christmas, you may find a number of Jewish people enjoying Chinese food. When one thinks of Jewish culture, you probably would not normally associate it with any variation of Chinese culture or cuisine.
Believe it or not, there is a connection between the two cultures which started in the late 19th century.
Some History: Jewish People and Chinese Food On Christmas
Christmas isn’t a Jewish holiday. As a result, many Jewish people use this time of the year to spend time with one another. Traditionally, their outings include trips to the movies and visits to Chinese food restaurants.
This actually got started in the late 1880s when Chinese and Jewish immigrants lived in close proximity to one another in New York City. Jewish people traditionally enjoyed eating kosher meals. On Christmas, many of the Chinese restaurants were open and they cook their foods without using dairy products. As a result, many Jewish people gravitated towards these restaurants, creating their own cultural practice on Christmas day.
Chinese restaurants did not discriminate against Jewish people, who might have met resistance at other types of restaurants on Christmas day. As a result, there was an instant union between the two cultures.
On New York Times reporter noted that in 1935, a Chinese chef named Eng Shee Chuck brought Lo Mein to children at a Jewish children’s home.
Americans and Chinese Food For Christmas
Believe it or not, but Chinese food on Christmas has become a tradition for all Americans. The majority of Chinese food restaurants are open on Christmas and as the popularity of these restaurants continues to grow, more Americans are making a visit to their favorite Chinese restaurant as part of their holiday celebration.
One New York Times article noted that the keyword “Chinese restaurant open” was popular during Christmas week.