Mixed Traditions

Hapa Mag - December 11, 2019

Chanukah and a Christmas Tree

ALEX CHESTER 

Growing up I was raised by my mom and grandmama who are Jewish. We always had a menorah and a Christmas tree… aka a Chanukah Bush. We would give each other smaller gifts during Chanukah, and then on Christmas Eve we would open the larger presents.

Jerk Turkey

LAUREN HARDIE

In days of yore, I, like many others, believed that turkey -- the driest and most boring of all holiday meats — was something we all had to suffer through. Until my brother unleashed his culinary prowess and graced our plates with jerk turkey. Who woulda thunk that turkey could be moist and spicy and… delicious? A Jamerican, that’s who. If you also happen to dislike turkey, try it with some jerk seasoning (because jerk seasoning makes just about everything taste better)!

Jewish Christmas Eve

AUTUMN HENRY

I know I’m not alone in saying that my family makes the holidays alllllll about food. We celebrated “traditional” Christmas for the first 20ish years of my life and then our family of four realized that the crazy stress of trying to gift give for everyone all at one time was taking the fun out of the holiday. So, of course, we turned more towards food to give, receive and share the love of Christmas. Our dishes became more elaborate, experimental, showy and rich. Bringing culinary efforts to the table has proved to be the perfect gift. 

The Christmas food ante got upped once I started dating my husband Ari Sadowitz -- enter nice jewish boy from New Haven. I knew there were lots of folks who didn’t celebrate Christmas but I’d never considered what they might do while everyone else roasts ham and makes Christmas cookies. Chinese food and a movie = Jewish Christmas??? Genius! We don’t always make it to a movie but I absolutely love the tradition of having Chinese food on Christmas Eve since it’s the perfect cuisine to eat family style and it’s the culinary symbol of our growing unique family.

Electric Hanukkha Menorah and Lots of Christmas lights 

REBECCA LEE LERMAN

I love December because the darkest time of year calls for lots of lights. You’ll be sure my whole house will be bright and cheerful to conquer the darkness and bring in much warmth for the holiday season. I’ll keep that electric menorah on all of Hanukkah and decorate my windows with sugary Christmas sparkle!

Chrismukkah! 

CHRISSY PARDO

When Chanukah and Christmas line up, we celebrate both!! This mostly comes from my husband, who is Jewish, and who married into my extremely Catholic family. We have latkes with our dinner, and for breakfast we have sufganiyot, which are Chanukah donuts from Israel.

Korean Fried Chicken and a Christmas Movie

MATT PARK

I don’t think we ever had one. I need to start one. Maybe it should be eating Korean Fried Chicken while watching The Nightmare Before Christmas.