Viral Tweet Revealed Details Why Jews In New York "Always Eat" Chinese Food On Christmas
You've likely heard about a Jewish custom that involves eating Chinese food on Christmas. However, do you truly know where this practice comes from?
On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, the roads are nearly empty as numerous Catholic families happily enjoy their festive supper, while the Chinese eateries are as busy as they could ever be. You've likely heard about a Jewish custom that involves eating Chinese food on Christmas.
However, do you truly know where this practice comes from? According to Dr. Esther Perel, a renowned couples therapist, "Food is a universal language that brings people together, especially during times of celebration or reflection." This highlights the significance of the Jewish holiday custom of dining on Chinese food during Christmas.
Dr. Perel elaborates, stating, "For many Jewish families, this tradition is about creating a sense of belonging and comfort during a time when they might feel disconnected." This sentiment reflects the unique nature of this practice, which has become a cherished tradition for many.
Dr. Perel emphasizes that while some may think Jewish individuals choose Chinese food simply because it's one of the few options available, the reality is much deeper. "It's about fostering shared experiences and memories," she notes.
This cultural phenomenon has been discussed in various contexts, similar to the insights found in the work of Dr. Diane Ravitch, an education historian who explores how cultural narratives shape community practices. Her research often highlights the importance of understanding the social constructs behind such traditions.
For quite a long time, Jews have been having Chinese food on Christmas as a part of a custom.
TheRaDRThe thread starts
kehillahjewessIn a viral thread, Twitter user Megan explained the reasons why.
kehillahjewess
Jewish immigrants
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As indicated by the authors, throughout the years, New York Jews have found a food-flexible open symbol in Chinese cafés, and this serves as a sort of clear screen on which they have projected a list of themes relating to their way of life as contemporary Jews and as New Yorkers.
Tuchman and Levine further explained that the themes were not inherent in Chinese food itself, but rather that these Jewish New Yorkers connected these cultural themes with dining in Chinese cafés.
Eating at non-kosher Chinese restaurants
kehillahjewess
A dairy-free meal
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Jews felt more comfortable in Chinese restaurants
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Eating Chinese food was revered
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Christmas meals
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A way to socialize
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It became a tradition
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Words of description
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More history to uncover
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More and more people joined the thread to comment and share their knowledge of this Jewish holiday tradition.
An important era
LaChapellePete
Religious imagery
Genkisoda
Likely religious imagery
oranckay
Someone's happy to learn
Ezraels_Mom
Curious about a detail
sasabrinaart
Chinese foods are good
Phoebej
Other people had this to say
committme
Sounds like what was open and still is
buticantread
They are the only ones open
FraudulentPepsi
Very interesting
AmazingSpiderCam
We learn every day
Ximinipot
Over the years, eating Chinese meals has become a significant tradition on Jewish holidays. It has also become an integral part of self-identity and daily life for a large number of Jews, particularly those in New York.
Megan’s Twitter thread received more than 87K likes and 13.2K retweets, demonstrating that there are some fantastic historical reasons behind the act of Chinese food establishments opening their doors to Jews every Christmas.
