Christmas Traditions

By Kevin Robinson in Miscellaneous on Dec 25, 2006 3:00PM

Besides being a virtually government-mandated day of family togetherness and quality time, Christmas Day is also a time for traditions. And not just for Christians and garden-variety secular Americans. If you haven't been to temple lately, (or aren't Jewish), you may not realize that many Jewish families here in Chicago have some traditions of their own.

At least in American cities (we can't vouch for our friends in the rest of the Western World), Jewish families by and large have a tradition of going out for Chinese food, usually followed by a movie, on Christmas Day. Here in Chicago, (as well in the other large cities), this tradition has evolved over the years. In fact, many Jewish families have been going to the same Chinatown restaurant, even dining at the same table, since they first came to Chicago. Many of the same Chinese families, as well, have been serving those Jewish families for generations. We think this is one of the many great things that happens in cities when two different groups live in such close proximity to each other.

If you aren't buried in wrapping paper already, dropping by Wentworth and Cermak for a bite of Peking Duck would be a fun way to pass an afternoon in a city that should otherwise be shut down. No matter what your beliefs are, we'd like to know what kinds of traditions you have for the holiday.