Tuesday, December 13, 2011

New York City Is Getting Ready For Christmas!


Who are these men and women dressed as Santa Claus or Santa's helpers
 that were crossing the Brooklyn Bridge this past Saturday?



They were participants in New York City's version of the annual "Santa Con" pub crawl.  According to Wikipedia: "Santa Con is a mass gathering of people dressed in Santa Claus costumes parading publicly on streets and in bars in cities around the world. The focus is on spontaneity and creativity, while having a good time and spreading cheer and goodwill."  A few of my daughter's friends participated this year and these are their photographs that they posted on facebook.



It certainly is a fun sight to see so many Santa Clauses in one place!



While Santa is making a list and checking it twice,
all of New York City is getting ready for Christmas!



The stores along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan are all dressed in their holiday finery.



Office buildings in Manhattan are decorated with gigantic wreaths....


...and almost every building lobby holds a Christmas tree.


Almost everything in New York City seems so larger than life during the Christmas season.




From the wooden soldiers that are standing guard...



and the large toy train display, and...



the Christmas tree ornaments, and...



Christmas tree lights that decorate the fountains outside the publishing houses on 6th Avenue.



Another Santa Claus was sighted near Radio City Hall,
 and this delighted little girl had her photo taken with him.



 But no visit to New York City would be complete without a visit to Saint Patrick's Cathedral.



..to see its beautiful Christmas tree, and ...



 ..its beautiful life size Nativity scene.


Whether large ....



...or small, like this window Nativity scene in a Greenwich Village store front,

the most beautiful message of the Christmas season is waiting for the birth of Christ.



I'm linking this post to Outdoor Wednesday on Susan's blog A Southern Daydreamer.



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58 comments:

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

How wonderful! I love seeing some of the places I actually stood at this past June, now decked out for the holidays. We stayed at the Hilton on 6th Ave....

Barbara F. said...

I never heard of this Santa bar crawl until this year! It looked incredible and I am sure loads of fun and lots of hangovers! Ahh, youth, I would have acid reflux for a week ;). I can always count on you for fab NYC photos, feel like I am right back there. Love the creche at St. Patrick's. xo

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I've never seen so many Santas in my life... That would really confuse little kids, wouldn't it???? Who is the READ Santa????? ha ha

Great decorations (nutcrackers, wreath, nativity scene, etc...)... Thanks for sharing the beauty.
Hugs,
Betsy

Lavender and Linen said...

I love NY! My daughter is going to be there for New Years!

ellen b. said...

Ahh New York is decked out so nicely for Christmas. Love it!

Carol said...

There's nothing like Christmas in New York! Excellent shots, enjoyed your post, Pat. A kid I know went dressed for Santa Con, had a blast!

Anonymous said...

Santa Con looks like lots of fun...and of course, Jesus is the reason for the season...beautiful nativities!

Vee said...

Such creativity...apart from the Santa Cons that is... =)

Some fine day, I'll be in NYC again and it will be in December.

Betty said...

I've never heard about all the people dressing as Santa. I don't think it's done here...unless you count the pathetic looking Santas standing on street corners holding signs that say, "We buy gold." They've popped up all over the place this year. And I was just commenting to my family the other day about how none of the stores decorate the outside anymore. They used to hang a wreath or string lights along the roof line, but no more. They are decorated inside, but nothing on the outside and the weather here is certainly mild enough for someone to get them up. New York City really sparkles! I wish we had something like that here.

Pamela Gordon said...

Wow. I'm blown away at all these wonderful photos and the gorgeous decorations, and all the Santas! Amazing!

pam said...

NYC does do Christmas well!

Lacey R said...

Ahhhh seeing these photos brings back good memories of our vacation! We saw quite a few of the decorations and felt quite Christmassy. Love the Fendi store front! Bergdorf's windows are amazing this year.

Jo said...

What a fabulous post! Spending Christmas in New York is on my bucket list! thanks for all of the delightful photos!

Sheila said...

St Patrick's Cathedral is majestic. Thanks for giving us a glimpse of the decorations and Christmas trees.It would be wonderful to see the sights in New York. i watched a TV special once on the creation of the department store Christmas windows and it would be fascinating to see them. I remember you saying there were big crowds in front of all the windows but i'd still love to see them.

Ginny Hartzler said...

Oh what gorgeous storefronts!!! I remember the giant balls from last year, but not the giant lights, how cool!!! And I love the giant Nutcrackers. The church is wonderful, too!!!

Ginny Hartzler said...

Hey, why do the call it Santa Con, it makes it sound like Santa Con Men!!

Tanna said...

Ooooh, I would love to see that life sized nativity and all of St.Patrick's Cathedral!! Christmas in NYC is beautiful. Than you, Pat. blessings ~ tanna

Buttercup said...

We've got some of the same pictures. I blogged about Sixth Avenue today and SantaCon over the weekend. There were some rowdy Santas on Saturday. The city does look lovely!

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Pat, I loved everything about this delightful post! The giant sized ornaments, lights and nutcrackers particularly. The Santa pub crawl was so funny...I have seen Comic con and other cons but this tickled my funny bone.
♥, Susan

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Ginny "Santa Con" is short for a "Santa Convention" ...lol!

Betsy ..I'm sure it does get confusing to some young children to see so many Santa Clauses...I'm glad I don't have to explain it to my grandchildren. :)

Lora @ my blessed life said...

Beautiful photos, Pat! NYC must be magical at Christmastime!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Pat - I just got back from a dinner in NYC tonight and it was so clear and beautiful. The city looked really dressed up for Christmas. Your photos capture some of the many places that make NYC a special place especially this time of year.

Cheryl D. said...

I'm going to be in NYC for Christmas! I can't wait. I've never been there at Christmas time! This will be my daughter's first trip to NYC! She's dying to see the Statue of Liberty! I bet she'll love all the holiday decorations even more!

diane b said...

Nothing like NY at Christmas. It must be fabulous to be there unless it is freezing cold. I wouldn't like that. The decorations and the cathedral are stunning.

Joanne Kennedy said...

Oh what a dream of mine...to one day be in NYC at Christmas time. I've been watching all the shows and everytime I say, "One day, one day I'll make it to NY at Christmas". You are sooooooo lucky to live there.

Light and Voices said...

NYC needs to be on my bucket list for the holidays. Kewelopolis!
Joyce M

Ola said...

Thank you for sharing these pictures and sharing the atmosphere of the steets just before Christmas! I love the huge guards statues:)

Old Kitty said...

OH I want to join the Santa Con! What a brilliant idea! I love it!! Now that's what I call festive! Yay for NYC people!!!!

And their decorations!!! Wonderful!

You know I scour shops here for a small nativity set to complete my christmas decor (I only have a tree with all the trimmings) but I'm so hard pressed to find any. It's just a reminder of childhood christmasses for me!

Happy Christmas Pat! take care
x

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

How delightful to see so many Santa's all gathered together! I have sure enjoyed NYC and saw some of the same places you have featured here. FUN!

Misty said...

I love the nativity scenes. Thanks for including the reason for the season!

Catherine said...

There`s no place like New York at Christmas! Loved all the Santa`s. Your pictures of Saint Patrick`s are beautiful.

genie said...

St. Pat’s and the light bulbs HAVE to be my favorite shots in this series. You need to be working for the Chamber of Commerce with them because they really do show the festive side of NYC. Reminds me of London and Harrods. The windows and decorations are all so beautiful. Those Santa helpers are just so cute. That would be fun to go out and watch. genie

Jeannelle said...

Wonderful post! You're making wish I could visit NYC for Christmas. This farm girl didn't think she'd ever say such a thing.

Claudia said...

The Santa Pub Crawl is just a hoot. I love 5th Avenue during Christmas - nothing like it in the world. Another favorite the Metropolitan Museum of Art and their tree and the Museum of Natural History. Have to love dinosaurs with Christmas lights!

Houseelf said...

What wonderfully festive scenes. I would've felt like a mouse with those big tree light ornaments. :-) Thanks for sharing Pat. I'm just catching up in Blogland now.

Cindy said...

What a magical place to be at this time of year. I would love to see it just once.
Thank you for allowing me to see it through your eyes.
The large assortment of Santas would be quite a sight!
Hugs, Cindy

Judy said...

I feel like I just had a Christmas-time visit in New York city. Beautiful...especially St. Patrick's Cathedral.

My name is Riet said...

What a great sight, all those Santa's dressed in red. I love those decorations of the buildings, that giant wreath is awesome and what a beautiful cathedral.And I love the nativity scene.
Have a nice week Pat.

Grace said...

Hahaha My Soldier made it to your blog too. I hope he is not bothering you. lol My niece experienced Santa Con for the first time. She laughed so much. She enjoyed it. She said it was more fun not drinking and walking around and seeing all the santa , gifts, rehindeers and elves. Great pictures you have Grace xoox

podso said...

Thanks for posting these wonderful photos! Certainly looks like Christmas!

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

The cathedral is my favorite...I'd love to spend some time there.

What an amazing sight...all those Santas!

And how clever, those icy belts with buckles decorating one of the building facades!

KB said...

I've never seen so many Santas. My OW is up too.

Michelle said...

I love those Nutcrackers all lined up. Gorgeous scenes at St. Patrick's

Beth said...

Pat, I love this post! I'm fascinated with NYC, and NYC at Christmas looks so beautiful and fun. I hope I can come back again, perhaps at Christmas time. I enjoyed seeing the Santas - thisis a fun post!
Hugs,Beth

Donna said...

Oh, wow, what beautiful and amazing holiday decorations! NY does everything big. Love all those Santas, too, how fun!!

Lovella ♥ said...

Oh those Santas are fun! What a great view from above of the red cloaked folks.
I can't get over how pretty the city is. I think it is the prettiest this time of year.

Marg said...

It is absolutely surreal. The cathedral, the Santa Clauses, the large wreaths, and trees...reminds me of just a tad bit that we saw a few years back.
Beautiful Memories.

Gracie said...

I'd die to be there in this season, it would be a thrill! Thanks for sharing the photos and the athmosphere.....

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

I had to laugh at Elvis Santa~ that looks like fun!
Thanks for the trip to NY!

Cathy said...

New York really does it up right for the holidays. Love the building fronts and the row of Nutcrackers. Seeing so many santas in one place would make my head spin. What fun!

Yvette said...

I ADORE NYC at Christmas time. I miss it most at this time of year.

Thanks for the lovely overview, Pat. It's ALMOST like being there. :)

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

I love all of the Santa Con participants - what a sight! Everything looks beautiful in NYC, Pat!

Kathleen said...

I think seeing all those Santas would be confusing for my gkids!
Love the pics of the lights and ornaments.
Beautiful shots!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Those big red Christmas balls are amazing! It sure looks like a festive time to be in the city! We just watched Family man...and he takes her to the city for their anniversary! Beautiful with all of the lights! ♥♥♥

Proud Italian Cook said...

I love those giant ornaments and christmas tree lights, what a beautiful time in NYC, I always love these posts of yours Pat!

Vicki/Jake said...

AWH, so glad I got over here again! I LOVE seeing NYC all dresses up. Thanks so much for sharing this. And the river of red Santa's was a treat:) Now I'll go do more catching up. Merry Christmas!

Margaret said...

Christmas in New York must be so magical! Thank-you for sharing your Christmas in New York with your wonderful photos Pat. I just love them all! Margaret from B.C.

Annesphamily said...

This was a lovely post! You always have a great share and make me smile.