Christmas Chinese Food Tradition Explained

Published on November 4th, 2024
Updated on November 20th, 2025

Chinese food on Christmas? It’s a thing — and we love it!

In the melting pot of the United States, traditional Christmas dinners aren’t always full of ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, and other sides. What you eat depends on where you go — hello, tamales and kringles! And in some cities, particularly New York City, Chinese food for Christmas dinner is a major trend. Here’s why.

Why do some people eat Chinese food on Christmas?

Chinese food is a great alternative option for people who either don’t want (or aren’t able) to spend the holidays with a loved one. You don’t have to make a huge meal, and you don’t have to eat one either. Plus, Chinese food leftovers last for a while, so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the food. Aside from that, there are a ton of other reasons you’d have Chinese food on Christmas. Maybe you’re running late, or your dinner didn’t turn out right, or you just really like Chinese food. No matter what it is, there’s no judgment! Embrace the tradition if you’re feeling it.

What is the tradition of Chinese restaurants on Christmas Eve?

The tradition of enjoying Chinese food on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day goes back to New York City in the late 1800s. At the time, two of the city’s largest non-Christian communities, Chinese and Jewish immigrants, lived near one another. Because neither group celebrated Christmas with church services or big holiday dinners, Chinese restaurants stayed open while most other businesses closed for the holiday.

According to the book A Kosher Christmas: ’Tis the Season to Be Jewish, Jewish families embraced Chinese restaurants on Christmas because they were open, inexpensive, and offered something different from their everyday deli foods. The welcoming nature of the Chinese community, which had no historical prejudice against Jewish people, also helped the tradition flourish.

What began as a practical choice, simply finding a place that was open, has grown into a beloved cultural ritual. Today, the tradition of Chinese food on Christmas has expanded far beyond its origins and is enjoyed by people of all backgrounds.

What movie do they eat Chinese food on Christmas?

Chinese food for Christmas dinner has become such a ubiquitous tradition that pop culture has fully embraced the idea in movies. The most famous is probably “A Christmas Story,” when the neighbors destroy the Parker’s Christmas dinner, and they head out for Chinese instead. Some others? “Scrooged,” when Christmas dinner is a meet-cute; “Office Christmas Party” when one of the characters wants to stay home on Christmas eating Chinese food; and “The Miracle of the Bells” (with Frank Sinatra!) where a couple reunites on Christmas over plates of chop suey.

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Read More: Traditional Christmas Foods Across America

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