The United States and China are on opposite sides of the world, so one might think they have very different traditions, and that is correct. Chinese tradition is very different from American tradition, especially, holiday traditions. In the short story Fish Cheeks, Amy is embarrassed by her family’s Chinese ways of Christmas Eve dinner. Chinese food, and table manners and customs are quite dissimilar from American food and customs.
Chinese and American traditions around the holidays are very different. Some common Chinese New Year traditions are to eat at home, because it “is the most important dinner for the Chinese.”(“Chinese” 1). It is also good to bring a small gift to for hostess as an act of kindness. Another part of the Chinese tradition is to eat around a round table rather than square or rectangle one. It is good to try everything that is offered and to eat lots of the food to show that you enjoy it. You should not be offended if a chinese person makes belching or slurping noises, “it merely indicates that they are enjoying their food.”(Commisceo Global 1). The most common foods on Chinese New Year include fish …show more content…
She is embarrassed that their guests will think what they have to eat is strange and not normal. That Christmas Eve her mom made fish, tofu, squid, and fungus: “A bowl soaking dry fungus back to life.” (Tan 184). The author was also embarrassed how her relatives licked the ends of their chopsticks, and reached across the table to dip their chopsticks into other dishes. She thought the quests would feel uncomfortable by all of her family's norms: “Then my father poked his chopsticks just below the fisheye and plucked out the soft meat.”(Tan 185) She was especially embarrassed when her father offered her the fish cheek and said “Amy, your favorite”(Tan 185). Amy was worried her crush would think she was weird because of the food and customs of her
Chinese and American traditions around the holidays are very different. Some common Chinese New Year traditions are to eat at home, because it “is the most important dinner for the Chinese.”(“Chinese” 1). It is also good to bring a small gift to for hostess as an act of kindness. Another part of the Chinese tradition is to eat around a round table rather than square or rectangle one. It is good to try everything that is offered and to eat lots of the food to show that you enjoy it. You should not be offended if a chinese person makes belching or slurping noises, “it merely indicates that they are enjoying their food.”(Commisceo Global 1). The most common foods on Chinese New Year include fish …show more content…
She is embarrassed that their guests will think what they have to eat is strange and not normal. That Christmas Eve her mom made fish, tofu, squid, and fungus: “A bowl soaking dry fungus back to life.” (Tan 184). The author was also embarrassed how her relatives licked the ends of their chopsticks, and reached across the table to dip their chopsticks into other dishes. She thought the quests would feel uncomfortable by all of her family's norms: “Then my father poked his chopsticks just below the fisheye and plucked out the soft meat.”(Tan 185) She was especially embarrassed when her father offered her the fish cheek and said “Amy, your favorite”(Tan 185). Amy was worried her crush would think she was weird because of the food and customs of her