Contributed by Jeffrey H.
New York City has some famous holiday traditions. Here are a few of my favorites.
Rockefeller Center. Each year an 80-foot tree is decorated and resides in Rockefeller Center for the Holiday season. A crowd gathers and TV crews arrive so the whole nation can watch the moment the tree is lit. Beneath the tree is an ice-skating rink and Christmas music plays. My cousin recently came to New York City and skated on the Rockefeller Center rink. He said it was a childhood dream come true. As a native New Yorker, I have taken the whole experience for granted. With him, the experience had a whole new meaning.
The Windows. Each year the major department stores along Fifth Avenue decorate their windows for the holidays. The design and building of the displays
takes an entire year and, at the end of the season, one store is awarded for the best windows.
The Nutcracker. This ballet is performed around the world during the holidays. It is the story of a young girl who dreams that her nutcracker toy transforms into a handsome prince. The first performance took place in 1892 and has been an annual holiday performance in America since the 1940s.
The Christmas Spectacular. The Rockettes perform this traditional holiday show for 8 weeks each Christmas. It started in 1933 with a sold out performance and a million people now see it each year. Today’s technology brings a 3-D experience of Santa’s sleigh flying through the theater and a 4-D experience of snow falling in
the theater itself. A friend of mine says he cries every time he sees it.
What are your city’s holiday traditions? We invite you to write your comments in the box below.
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