Christmastime in New York City is a time to experience a bright and whimsical take on reality, and to revisit the innocent fantasies of childhood. The brilliant glow of holiday lights that pour off every surface, the grand decorations that occupy the streets and fill tourists with Christmas cheer, and the overall winter aesthetic that the city carries makes it the ultimate destination for those seeking a true Christmas experience. The perpetually fast-paced city knits together with the cozy feeling of Christmas that warms people’s hearts and fills their souls with a nostalgic glee, the kind that settles in the pit of your stomach and keeps you awake on Christmas Eve. The snow that dusts the fatigued sidewalks, and settles on the tops of lofty buildings, the chilly air that envelops your body, and the nipped, red noses make New York a complete winter wonderland, and gives a real projection of people’s ideal “white Christmas.” However, it is famed attractions like Bryant Park, the Rockerfeller Tree, and department store window displays that truly push this city over the top.
New York’s Bryant Park is said to be the world’s premier winter village market. The market is located on 42nd street between 5th and 6th Avenue. It opened on Oct. 27, and runs until Jan. 2. Inside the village, you can find a blend of shops and food stalls that emit smells of cinnamon, and aromas of holiday comfort foods to offer solace amidst the wintry air. Bryant Park also offers an ice-skating rink with rentable walkers and skates for beginners. The market is perfect for Christmas shopping, and a gold mine for unique and individual trinkets to give to your loved ones. Sophomore Lachlan Maggs explains that “winter is about slowing down.” The village captures the quaint, homey feel that Christmas is built upon, and offers a change of pace among the hustle and bustle of the big city. Senior Cassidy Moore says that “the city is nice and snowy but there is always a lot of movement which really kind of forces you to remember where you are.”
The Rockerfeller Tree is an iconic destination for tourists and New York natives alike. Around the holidays, Rockerfeller Center is decked out with holiday festivities like ice skating around the famed tree, and it is surrounded by some of some of New York’s most popular toy stores. The tree itself, at its towering height of 80 feet tall, is the absolute center of attention, stunning those who witness it, and imposes the realization of just how far New Yorkers will go to inflict the Christmas spirit into people’s veins. Junior Matthew Fischer says that “it’s monuments like the Rockerfeller Tree and the skating rink that make New York such an anticipated destination.” The official tree lighting ceremony occurred on Nov. 29, but you can see it in its full glory every night starting at 4:30 p.m., until Jan. 13. The sight of the magnificent tree glittering against the dark backdrop of New York’s night sky is a sight to behold. The experience itself feels straight out of a dream—or maybe just a Christmas movie.
Department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Macys are known for their extravagant window displays and light shows. While some high-end clothing stores and other shops scattered around the city, fill their window space with this season’s eccentric and fabulous couture, larger chain department stores take the holiday season as an opportunity to create original, themed displays. New York City is famous for its lights—full of sparkle, that excite your soul and make you feel like you are standing at the center of everything the world has to offer. Saks Fifth Avenue has, in my opinion, one of the best lights show you can see whilst visiting the city. The lights run every 10 minutes and are about five minutes long. The Globetrotting Teacher highlights special department stores, saying, “Saks Fifth Avenue also has a beautiful light show that illuminates the entire building facade with holiday lights and sparkles choreographed to festive music.” The lights start around 4:30 p.m. and continue until 11:35. Saks puts on a performance that is elegant and calm, yet manages to capture the joyous, busy feel of Christmastime in New York.
Exploring New York in the wintertime is a thrilling experience, but the frigid climate is not for the faint of heart. Though a barrier, the icy air is not an excuse to dismiss the potential that winter fashions hold. The enchanting outfits that have graced my Pinterest feed this holiday season, brought me to a realization: Spending Christmas in New York city is one feat, but having cute outfits while doing it is another. The secret to elevating your outfit is through layering and accessorizing. The simple act of choosing your base layers gives you a solid canvas to work up from, but it is the statement pieces and jewelry that make the outfit what it is. One frequent winter trend that proves conventional and truly elevates your outfits are large woolen scarves. These are adorable whether you purchase staple colors to add depth and keep the focus on the outfit itself, or if you prefer a pop of color against the snowy backdrop to add a special element to your clothes. A trend we have seen everywhere lately is the adorable additions of ribbons or bows that people string through their hair. These bows are simple yet affective and allow the individual to perfectly achieve that coquette holiday look that we all crave. Huge knit sweaters paired with the skirt and fleece-lined tights combo, creates the ideal Rory Gilmore meets Christmas in the city look. This outfit keeps you warm, per the sweater and tights, as well as captures the iconic “downtown girl” aesthetic.
New York is built off timeless traditions that it will never cease to fulfill. Movies like “Elf” and “Home Alone 2” brought Christmas magic to the screen, and in turn, brought people to the city. The level of decoration that floods the streets is in part, due to the department store and restaurant industry. Spectrum News reports that “department stores would sometimes make 35 percent of their profits for the whole year during Christmas. The department stores started to realize that Christmas was a very lucrative opportunity.” “This holiday is ‘extremely important’ to the restaurant industry… Restaurant profits during the holiday season tend to be highest than the rest of the year.” These stores may wrap their walls with lights and wreaths for profit, but it ultimately escalates the spread of Christmas cheer. Freshman Allison Choi offers that “New York is one of those “high-end” cities. And so I think the lighting and decorations and effort that the luxury stores put in really helps draw people there. Now everything is all about aesthetics, so when people think about Christmas in New York, they see this bright and super pretty holiday city setting.”
New York has undisputedly captured the dreamy Christmas sensations and has taken people’s hearts along with it. It has become the place to be, the epitome of all that is Christmas – and rightfully so. New York gives the people what they wish for, and absolutely knocks people’s expectations off the park—Central Park, that is.
