Why do Jews Eat Chinese Food on Christmas?

It's been a tradition, or better said, a common practice, for Jews to eat Chinese food on Christmas day, either by going to Chinese restaurants or buying Chinese takeout food for dinner at home.

Supreme Court justice Elena Kagan made it sort of official when she was asked during her confirmation hearing where she was on Christmas day. Here's what she said:

 

The reasons most cited for the affinity between Jews and Chinese food are that Chinese restaurants are generally open on Christmas day, most of their menu items do not include dairy, and that their non-kosher meats are chopped up and hidden inside of dumplings or wrappers.

 

Today it's not so easy to find a kosher Chinese restaurant in many cities, but you'll likely have a selection to choose from if you live in the New York-New Jersey area, or in other states with large Jewish communities like South Florida, Los Angeles, or in Israel.

Dani Klein is doing a great service to the kosher Jewish community by providing an updated list of kosher restaurants worldwide at www.yeahthatskosher.com. To find a certified restaurant in your area, his website is worth checking out. 

Also be sure to check out the smartphone apps Kosher Near Me and Kosher GPS.