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New
York City Christmas

No city
is more exciting at holiday time!
Text and Photos by Sandra Scott
There's no place like it at holiday time. New York City is always exhilarating,
but during the Christmas season the city dons its festive finery. Excitement
abounds. There is quickness in every step. The feeling of Christmas is
in the air, and there is much to see and do, but certain traditional activities
personify Christmas time in New York City.
Season
Kickoffs
The season's unofficial opening event is the world-renowned Macy's Thanksgiving
Day Parade, which this year takes place on November 26th. The excitement
starts the night before when hundreds gather at Central Park West. Each
year, since 1924, more than a million people line the parade route along
Broadway to catch sight of their favorite cartoon character balloons-Spiderman,
Snoopy, Betty Bop, Superman, Cat in the Hat, and Bull winkle-, all carefully
controlled by an army of skilled volunteers.
Along with the balloons there are award-winning marching bands from all
over the United States, and elaborate floats topped with celebrities from
stage, screen, and television. At the end of the two-hour parade, eagerly
awaited by the young and the young at heart, is that jolly fellow, Santa
Claus. With his characteristic wave, he ushers in a new Christmas season.
However, and since the 1920s, the official start of the Christmas season
is the lighting of the 21 meter high tree in Rockefeller Center. This
year,on Wednesday, December 2, 1998, with a flick of a switch, New York's
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani will bring to life all 20,000 lights on the city's
official Christmas tree, accompanied by music, caroling, and figure skating.
With its decorations of ethereal, trumpeting angels, Rockefeller Center
is a good place to start exploring the "Big Apple."
The Sounds
of Christmas
Universally acclaimed as an architectural triumph, Radio City Music Hall
is one of the entertainment world's most appealing and exciting venues.
The 65th anniversary edition of the Christmas Spectacular-attended by
over one million people every year- will run from November 5, 1998, to
January 3, 1999. Radio City's entertainment extravaganza featuring the
world-famous Rockettes, includes the traditional living Nativity Pageant
with live donkeys, camels, and sheep.
Over at Lincoln Center audiences enjoy the Nutcracker Ballet in the New
York State Theater. This hugely popular ballet is Tchaikovsky's Christmas
gift to us all, and one of New York's holiday season traditions.
For those so caught up in the Christmas spirit that they feel compelled
to
raise their voice in song, New York City has an once-in-a-lifetime experience
- singing the Messiah with three thousand others at Lincoln Center. Every
year at the Avery Fisher Hall, led by 21 guest conductors, the entire
audience joins in singing Handel's Messiah. Bring your own music or buy
it in the lobby, no experience is necessary. The result is loud, enthusiastic,
thrilling, and joyful.
Shop Till
You Drop
Shopping and New York are synonymous. Here, there is something for everyone
and every budget. Window-shopping is free and what a marvel it is! The
displays, especially along 5th Avenue, are magical creations, vignettes
of Christmas past and Christmas fantasies.
The renowned, quintessential store, Macy's, at 34th and
Broadway, has something for everyone in all price categories. The fifth
floor is a spectacular
wonderland with Santa Claus in residence and toys galore. Toy shopping
at the world famous F.A.O. Schwarz will dazzle the hearts and imaginations
of children of all ages, and tickle the child within all of us. Tiffany's
is where wishes are made and dreams do come true. Much at Tiffany's is
extremely expensive; however, there are a few affordable gifts, such as
robin-egg blue playing cards with the Tiffany logo.
New Year's
Eve
The season that starts with a massive crowd spread over many
blocks to see the parade ends with over a quarter of a million people,
yelling and screaming, crammed into Times Square. A tradition since 1907,
the event is now broadcast to more than 500 million people around the
world. At 11:59, the huge aluminum ball studded with hundreds of lights
and rhinestones is lowered down a 77- foot flagpole to reach its destination
at exactly 12:00 midnight, lighting the numerals that will announce the
New Year-1999.
Special
Wonders
At every store, in every church, at every turn, and in the most unlikely
places, people have put their own special touch on the Christmas season.
The best part of Christmas in New York may be discovering your very own
special Christmas magic. It may be a quiet moment gazing on the nativity
scene at St. Patrick's Cathedral, or at one of the many other churches,
or the look on the face of a little girl telling Santa what she wants
for Christmas.
All of the museums have special displays at holiday time. At The Cloister,
part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the arched doorways of the main
hall are adorned with ivy, nuts, and apples as part of their fanciful
medieval-style decorations.
After dark, take a ride on the Staten Island Ferry for an unparalleled
view of New York City. The glimmering city lights reflect in the velvet
black of the river. Or, in the late evening, when the city is quiet, and
fluffy snowflakes dance in the air, a carriage ride through the deserted
streets is magical.
Christmas time is when New York City is at its best. Holidays are songs
in the air. The smell of roasting chestnuts from the street corner vendor
and the tinkle of the bell of Sidewalk Santa will put you in the Christmas
spirit. No city is more exciting at holiday time than New York City.
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