Santa's Role
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Macy’s hailed Santa’s appearance in the first annual parade as his “official entry to New York.”[1] Bringing up the rear of the parade ever since, Santa continues to be the subject of the children’s anticipation and the event’s guest of honor. By tradition, upon arriving at Macy’s, Santa climbs atop the marquee at the store’s entrance and thence addresses the expectant crowd.
Following his Christmas greetings, he ceremoniously unveils the 75-foot Macy’s Christmas window, revealing a different scene each year. The window’s Wondertown scenes were originally peopled by Tony Sarg’s “Marvelous Mechanical Marionettes.”[2] |
Following is a sampling of the window’s themes during its first two decades:
1924: The Fairy Frolics of Wondertown
1925: The Thousand and One Nights
1927: Adventure in the Magic Forest
1928: The Exploits of Columbus
1934: The Night Before Christmas
1939: a bridal procession through a village Main Street to the tune of “The Wedding of the Wooden Soldier and the Painted Doll”
1945: Alice in Wonderland (on 26 revolving miniature floats)
1946: The Nutcracker Prince (26 miniature, revolving floats; played with music) |
The scenes depicted in the Macy’s 34th Street window have continued to be a relic of the parade’s passage through the city and the subsequent launching of the Christmas season at the store.
One of Macy's Christmas window scenes
Back to the Top / On to Parade Spectators
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[References]
[1] "Display Ad 10 – No Title," New York Times (1857-Current file), Nov 28, 1924, ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851-2001), 9.
[2] "Display Ad 13 – No Title," New York Times (1857-Current file), Nov 27, 1925, ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851-2001), 11.
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[Images]
Santa: courtesy of <http://www.scottdecker.com/new_york_city/pictures_november_22_2001.html>
Macy's Christmas Window: courtesy of <http://dpsinfo.com/trips/nyc2001/photo10.html> (© 2001 Photo by Laurie D. T. Mann) |
