New York's Dazzling Love Affair With Christmas

Cartier's bright red bow - Fifth Avenue.

The lights along Park Avenue.

Macy's entrance.

The Christmas Memories windows at Lord & Taylor - Fifth Avenue.

Macy's "Yes, Virginia" windows.

The main selling floor at Macy's.

The tree at Rockefeller Center.

New York City and Christmas just seem to go together.
And this year is no exception.
The big, big Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center (and all the little trees leading up to it) naturally capture the spirit of the season.
And at every turn, the Big Apple delights in a celebration of the holiday. Stores and banks and restaurants and hotels and public buildings and public spaces just seem to go all out in an attempt to outdo one another in Christmas joy. And, make no mistake about it -- this is one city's that isn't afraid to shout the word "Christmas"from every treetop and every skyscraper.
Macy's windows retell the "Yes, Virginia" story from the New York Sun.
And Lord & Taylor's windows (our personal favorites this year) bring the actual Christmas memories of Lord & Taylor customers to life.
The cool, icy blue LED lights along Park Avenue glimmer in the night.
And all those red, red Christmas ornaments at Macy's entrance and the beautiful arcs along the main selling floor beckon all to enter. Then again, there's the huge red bow that wraps the entire Cartier store on Fifth Avenue. Now, that's a classic!
And we haven't even shown you the giant snowflake suspended above 57th and Fifth or the astounding tree full of angels at the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the model train exhibit and ceiling light show at Grand Central Station or the triangle of lighted trees that seem to float atop the corner of the Trump Tower or the fresh wreaths and garland outside the 21 Club or the traditional creche at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
At every turn, from every angle, New York is a Christmas celebration.
What's behind New York's love affair with Christmas?
Well, a lot of it had to do with something crisp and green and valuable. But, who cares?
New York City knows that during this season what's good for your heart and soul is also good for business, good for New York and good for America.
And that's an appeal that we can all understand.
Photos copyright 2010 by Dan Cirucci.