From the New York Post, December 23:
Keep the gingerbread — pass the fortune cookies.
I’m looking forward to a great Chinese meal on Dec. 25 — a tradition known to many New Yorkers as “Jewish Christmas,” when those who don’t celebrate actual Christmas gather for a festive lunch in the one type of restaurant that typically remains open.
For many in the Big Apple, Jewish or not Jewish, going out on the Big Day has become a cheerful culinary and atmospheric respite from the holiday-as-usual.
The occasion is sure to be particularly festive after two duck-deprived, less-than-celebratory holiday seasons that one New Yorker described to me as “dystopian.”
“I obviously don’t celebrate Christmas, but it’s a celebration to finally get to see my parents,” said Dave Dreifus, 30, relieved to be getting back to normal after 2020 and 2021, “when everyone was sick and we didn’t go out.”....
....MUCH MORE
I'm not sure that whoever made the pitch for "pork belly in chile oil" in the story above is completely clear on the concept but two ancient cultures that ended up cheek-by-jowl as immigrants in New York City did require a bit of give-and-take on the part of the new communities.
And as someone once commented (was it Woody Allen?), with the dates changed of course, in the Hebrew calendar the year 2022 is year 5783 whereas in the Chinese agricultural calendar it is the year 4720.
Meaning that for 1063 years the Jews were without Chinese food.
