Anyone else have Chinese food today?

[Neroon]

Chinese on Christmas is a something of a Jewish tradition, but my family was just too lazy to go out today.

I have heard this in a couple of places today. Does anyone know the backstory on this tradition?

The "tradition" of Jews having chinese and going to a movie on Christmas, are pretty much just because those are the only two places open.

The reason for going to a Chinese restaurant I had figured out some time back. What I wasn't sure about was the "Jewish tradition" part.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Given that I set off the smoke alarm cooking the turkey, maybe this is a tradition I should start in my family...

Ah, but have you had a small garage fire caused by a turkey fryer?

 

[OdoWanKenobi]

I have heard this in a couple of places today. Does anyone know the backstory on this tradition?

The "tradition" of Jews having chinese and going to a movie on Christmas, are pretty much just because those are the only two places open.

The reason for going to a Chinese restaurant I had figured out some time back. What I wasn't sure about was the "Jewish tradition" part.

It's more of a joke than anything else. It became a "Jewish" thing because we don't celebrate Christmas and therefore don't have anything better to do.

 

[trampledamage]

Given that I set off the smoke alarm cooking the turkey, maybe this is a tradition I should start in my family...

Ah, but have you had a small garage fire caused by a turkey fryer?

No, thank goodness! But I'm looking forward to reading an article in this week's Macleans magazine about deep frying turkeys (including the story of a fire that broke out when some fire-fighters tried it for their Christmas dinner at the fire house...)