Unique Holiday Traditions; Movies & Chinese Food On Christmas Day
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: December 25, 2012
For some people, today was a day to gather 'round the tree, drink
eggnog, and sing along to those Christmas classics. But not everyone
celebrates the same way.
One area movie-goer says "Today is 'Movies and Chinese food day.' That's how she and several others at the New Hartford Marquee Cinemas celebrate Christmas. And they say combining a movie with Chinese food is a century-old tradition.
"On Christmas, Jews go to the movies and then they go eat Chinese food and they run into all their Jewish friends, a few Hindus and Muslims thrown in," says Steven Kussin, Clinton resident.
"I got a text today from someone saying wishing you a good movie and Chinese food," says Andi Dinerstein, New Hartford resident.
The Marquee Cinema says they've had crowds all day. Some movie-goers call it their "Jewish Christmas."
"We celebrate Christmas with my family on Christmas eve, and then we have 'Jewish-Christmas' on Christmas day here at the movie theatre and then Chinese food after," says Anne McGuirl, Clinton resident.
Some of these folks say this is a tradition as old as time. It's not exactly a holiday but rather an event that thousands take part in.
"I'm 63, I've been doing this for 55 years," says Kussin.
"Because that's what our parents did," says Dinerstein.
"Since the boys were old enough to walk and there in college now so probably 15-20 years," says Kay Roberts, New Hartford resident.
And while many call it a Jewish-American tradition, other movie-goers say it's also a Christmas tradition.
"We go to church on Christmas Eve at night and on Christmas day we always go to the movies,"
says Christal Thayer, Ilion resident.
But celebrating family is the biggest tradition of all.
"I think it's a lot of togetherness with our family," says Dinerstein.
"More and more of my family members who are all Roman Catholics have joined in with 'Jewish-Christmas' too so even more of my family is getting into the whole spirit of it," says McGuirl
"It's definitely for all religions because its not a religious thing, its a family thing," says Thayer.
And everyone agrees that catching a movie and eating Chinese food on Christmas is a tradition that's here to stay.
One area movie-goer says "Today is 'Movies and Chinese food day.' That's how she and several others at the New Hartford Marquee Cinemas celebrate Christmas. And they say combining a movie with Chinese food is a century-old tradition.
"On Christmas, Jews go to the movies and then they go eat Chinese food and they run into all their Jewish friends, a few Hindus and Muslims thrown in," says Steven Kussin, Clinton resident.
"I got a text today from someone saying wishing you a good movie and Chinese food," says Andi Dinerstein, New Hartford resident.
The Marquee Cinema says they've had crowds all day. Some movie-goers call it their "Jewish Christmas."
"We celebrate Christmas with my family on Christmas eve, and then we have 'Jewish-Christmas' on Christmas day here at the movie theatre and then Chinese food after," says Anne McGuirl, Clinton resident.
Some of these folks say this is a tradition as old as time. It's not exactly a holiday but rather an event that thousands take part in.
"I'm 63, I've been doing this for 55 years," says Kussin.
"Because that's what our parents did," says Dinerstein.
"Since the boys were old enough to walk and there in college now so probably 15-20 years," says Kay Roberts, New Hartford resident.
And while many call it a Jewish-American tradition, other movie-goers say it's also a Christmas tradition.
"We go to church on Christmas Eve at night and on Christmas day we always go to the movies,"
says Christal Thayer, Ilion resident.
But celebrating family is the biggest tradition of all.
"I think it's a lot of togetherness with our family," says Dinerstein.
"More and more of my family members who are all Roman Catholics have joined in with 'Jewish-Christmas' too so even more of my family is getting into the whole spirit of it," says McGuirl
"It's definitely for all religions because its not a religious thing, its a family thing," says Thayer.
And everyone agrees that catching a movie and eating Chinese food on Christmas is a tradition that's here to stay.
