Christmas is not my favorite holiday, but I do love the holiday season, despite what people say about the rampant commercialism. The lights, the bows, the tinsel, the sugar and spice. New York seems to be particularly beautiful during Christmas, midtown in particular with all the window displays.
Above, from the upper left hand corner, clockwise: Bergdorf Goodman Christmas window, Radio City Music Hall marquee, Time Warner Center atrium, Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and Skating Rink, snowflakes on Saks Fifth Avenue, Christmas day buffet at my parent's house, The San Remo residential building seen from Central Park in winter.*But, its not just Christmas on 5th Avenue that I love. I find Christmas music, even the annoying stuff they play on loop at Duane Reade, kind of joyful. I like the seasonal cookies that come out, like the white fudge covered Oreos. I love the lights people string on their fire escapes, the city version of the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. I find contentment in a silent and cold street, decorated here and there with the signs of Christmas.
In talking about Christmas in Guadeloupe, an acquaintance mentioned that I ought to see the beautiful nativity display at Destrellan, one of the large commercial centers near the capital. I had already seen the display, since it was set up much earlier in the month. Its an incredibly simple flocked figurine display, typical of malls or other public places. I can't describe it in more detail because I hardly gave it a second look. How to tell her that nothing here could ever measure up to Christmas in New York?
* All photos, except of family buffet, taken from Flickr by wallyg, wheelmaker, thomas churchwell, corbetz, ppinksky7, mediaavatar.
dude, that's totally how i feel in LA too. like, it just doesn't feel like christmas. all the reindeer and santa on people's lawns seem so out of place here.
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