1960s A New York City Christmas tradition originating from the 1890s, Jewish New Yorkers are seen eating Chinese food at Bernstein's on Essex (135 Essex) cooked according to kosher food preparation rules. Restaurants open on Christmas Day in Chinatown being in close proximity to LES likely started the tradition with Chinese cuisine not mixing meat with dairy. A movie got bundled together with Chinese food as part of Christmas tradition in later decades. Photo from Bettmann Archives.
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