Getting into the Holiday Spirit in NYC
Lead Editor: Princess Raymond Deputy Editor: Averee Nelson
It’s been two long years since we’ve all had a “normal” holiday season. Though COVID-19 is still very much a public health issue, most businesses have finally reopened and social activities have resumed. With just about a week until December, New Yorkers are preparing for their favorite holiday festivities. Here’s how New Yorkers are getting into the holiday spirit this year …
Signs of the Holidays
Tess Schumacher reporting from New York City, New York
The month is November and the holiday season is just around the corner. Being a native New Yorker, I know that the holidays are a big deal in the city. Decorations start going up as early as November 1st. As soon as Halloween ends, the festive spirit begins. My family and I personally hold off on decorating until at least December 1st. Putting decorations up this early just seems to take the specialness out of it. One thing that can’t come early enough though in my opinion is eggnog. I am a huge eggnog fan. I wouldn’t want to have it all year round though because that would make it less special like the early holiday decorations, but getting eggnog a month early couldn’t hurt. All around my apartment building and neighborhood in general, decorations have started going up left and right. I noticed at least a week or two ago that there are lights being hung from above the streets and multiple terraces in my building complex have started to glow when dusk falls. It honestly is a beautiful sight to stare up the 22 floors from the ground and see the lights glowing in the darkness. One of my favorite things to do during the holiday season is walking around my neighborhood and looking at the houses that are decorated. It feels like I’m walking through a holiday wonderland. I also love that the holiday season means getting to see family and friends that live far away. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.
NYC Is Really Getting Into The Holiday Spirit!!
Gabrielle Fiorella Reporting Live From Manhattan, New York
Thanksgiving is almost here, but we all know what that means: Christmas decorations have already been put up! As soon as Halloween was over, NYC went full Christmas mode and it seems that every street that I walk down has some sort of holiday decorations adorning it. Snowflake lights line the sides of glorious skyscrapers and buildings, putting all those who pass them into a fun and cheery holiday spirit, at least that’s the case for me. On October 30th, Bryant Park’s Winter Village opened up, the perfect place to go enjoy a nice session of ice skating, some hot chocolate, delicious food and the cutest shops. I went in mid-November with my sister and it is by far one of my favorite holiday festivities to do in the city. I haven’t yet ice skated there, but it is on my list to do this winter. It is just now starting to get cold enough to feel like ice skating weather to me and I am so excited. I love ice skating! Among other decorations that I have seen, including a building wrapped up like a present with a bow, a giant star hanging over traffic lights above the street, and so many trees covered in ornaments in front of business buildings or apartment buildings. The holidays/winter time is my absolute favorite time in the city. It just feels so magical and wonderful and I can’t wait for it all to start when I get back from going home for Thanksgiving break! When it snows, it makes it even better because the beautiful lights and decorations are twinkling and it truly captures how much I love living here.
Expensive Holiday Spirit in NYC
Averee Nelson Reporting from New York, New York
Christmas in New York City is one of the most magical experiences, and one of the most expensive. NYC is expensive as it is but the added holiday “charm” is breaking a lot of people’s budgets, including my own. According to CNN Business, this will be one of the most expensive holiday shopping seasons, and shoppers are seemingly willing to spend extra. As a relatively broke college student, it is a strain on my wallet to partake in anything related to the holidays in the city. As much as I love holiday window displays, Christmas themed bars, and ice-skating rinks, it comes at a price and a lot of tourism. Bloomberg reports that NYC reclaims top spot for U.S. tourism as the winter holidays are approaching. The article says that Tripadvisor’s Winter Travel Index shows that more than 55% of Americans are planning to travel for the holidays and New York is one of the top three destinations. This means that New York City is going to be bustling more than ever as the winter holidays are celebrated despite the pandemic and inflation. I planned accordingly and decided to visit my favorite holiday attraction before Thanksgiving week, to avoid the tourists and crowds. I went to Bryant Park’s Winter Village and it filled my heart with the holiday spirit. There’s nothing like grabbing a hot chocolate and apple cider donuts while watching people ice-skate and do their Christmas shopping. It was one of the most relaxed experiences I have had at the Winter Village because it wasn’t crowded and people really seemed to be enjoying their time there. I opted out of ice-skating myself or doing much holiday shopping because of the overpriced rates, but I had a great time nonetheless.
Bloomingdale’s Holiday Window Display Launch
By: Natalie Davila
On Thursday, November 18th the Bloomingdale’s flagship location continued its yearly tradition of announcing its fabulous holiday window displays. This year their theme is “Give Happy,” each of the six displays showcases brightly colored modernized art of Santaland. Including, my favorite windows which are the T-Rex Christmas tree and what could only be described as “respectful” reindeer. Typically, these windows feature an interactive element. Back in 2018, there was karaoke offered at one of the windows, and participants could sing along with the Grinch or take pictures with him. However, since Covid is still happening, the designers of the windows had to take a different approach to the interactive element. Visitors just need to have their phone charged, and one that is able to scan QR codes. The holidays have definitely felt different since the pandemic but these small traditions continue to make things feel normal. Of course, things have changed but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Events, especially during the holidays season, have always been overcrowded to the point that they can be unenjoyable at times. Prior to the pandemic, at least 10,000 people an hour would visit the windows between Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s according to TripSavvy. These were during peak hours, so if someone went at 2 am (the way I used to), the crowds were not there but during the day it was a mess, and depending on your errands the crowds were unavoidable. Nowadays, people are spreading things out, trying to be safe and keep their distance. I think the launch of these windows at Bloomingdale’s is proof that we can celebrate our holidays and be safe during a never-ending pandemic. Let’s hope the rest of the holiday season stays the same.
A Time For Gathering (In A Covid Friendly Way?)
Rayiah Ross Reporting from New York, New York
The holidays this year are strange. While now is usually a season of gathering and being thankful, there’s this strange elephant in the room: Covid. We saw New York slowly open itself up to festivities and holiday cheer with concerts in Central Park and The Halloween Parade in October. Now, with Bryant Park’s ice skating rink open this month, the winter holidays are flourishing in New York City. It’s interesting seeing such a joyous moment for the city while also recognizing the repercussions of it all. Heading into Thanksgiving week, 25 communities across the Five Boroughs have 7-day positivity rates above 3%, according to the city’s Department of Mental Health and Hygiene. Thirty-five neighborhoods saw 50 or more new COVID-19 infections between Nov. 10–16. It’s a stark reminder of how hard it truly is to gather during Thanksgiving week. On top of that, there are so many people in the city that are taking advantage of these facilities and I can only hope that their vaccinated and wearing a mask. And then there are the people that aren’t in the city. Many of us are leaving the city and are headed home to huge families without any idea what their vaccination status is or if they’ve been safe thus far. I guess it’s a great question to bring up at the Thanksgiving table this year. Nonetheless, New York is beautifully decorated in fake snowflakes as we await the real ones to come. Businesses have switched out with pumpkins for snowmen and leaves on the trees will soon disappear for the winter. It would be much more fun to revel in if there wasn’t so much previous tension surrounding this time of year in the previous years. But maybe it’s good that we have this fear and we’re all aware and cautious now. God knows we don’t need a repeat of 2019’s lockdown.
