Better get those Christmas lists started. It’s now official. With the exciting arrival of the Grand Poobah of the Christmas present season, the finale of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade ended with the entrance of Santa Claus on his sleigh.
This year Santa arrived in a new sleigh, retiring the sleigh Santa rode in for over 40 years. The new emerald and gold Victorian-influenced sleigh is almost three stories high – making it easier for everyone viewing the parade to see. John Piper, VP of Macy’s Parade studio, explained, “It had to be equally gorgeous and timeless. We designed and built it for the next 50 years to come.”
Now, Santa Claus will preside over Santaland,- his Christmas village, taking over 130,000 square feet of most of an entire floor of Macy’s flagship store on 34th Street. It is projected that over 350,000 people will visit Santa Claus at Macy’s this holiday season. That’s a lot of lap time!
The whole concept of a huge consumerism gift-giving extravaganza began in the 1820’s. The first Christmas present advertising was seen in 1804 but by the 1820’s ads were everywhere. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, originally titled The Macy’s Christmas Parade, started in 1824 with floats and live animals from the Central Park Zoo. While Santa Claus was part of the parade, he was available for children to visit at Macy’s in 1862.
This time of year everyone complains that Christmas has become too commercial - there’s too much emphasis on getting than giving, and the over-indulgence of kids’ presents. Turns out that this lament is not new. In the 1850’s, one of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s characters complained that when she was a child, “the very idea of a present was new” and “there are worlds of money wasted at this time of year”.
Suggestions for Toy Christmas Lists:
- Remind children that Christmas is really about the giving and not the getting
- Make sure that the one main special toy that the child wants is starred, underlined, and highlighted.
- Remember that fad toys are just that. The classic quality toys are the ones that pass the test of time.
- Online shopping has become so easy and convenient, especially for busy moms, and out-of-state grandparents.
- Christmastime is a time of joy and fun. Don’t forget to make the shopping fun!
Macy's Famous Santa Goes on Tour - Visiting 25 Cities in 25 Days Across America
28-Nov South Portland, ME South Portland
29-Nov Nampa, ID Nampa
30-Nov Albany, NY Colonie Center
1-Dec Salt Lake City (Orem), UT University
2-Dec Warwick, RI Warwick
3-Dec Fresno, CA Fresno Fashion Fair
4-Dec West Hartford, CT Westfarms
5-Dec Mission Viejo, CA Mission Viejo
6-Dec Harrisburg, PA Harrisburg East
7-Dec San Diego, CA Fashion Valley
8-Dec Columbus, OH Easton Town Center
9-Dec Gilbert, AZ San Tan Village
10-Dec Barboursville, WV Huntington
11-Dec Albuquerque, NM Coronado Center
12-Dec Richmond, VA Short Pump Town Center
13-Dec Denver, CO Cherry Creek
14-Dec Raleigh, NC Crabtree
15-Dec Summit, MO Summit Fair
16-Dec Nashville, TN Cool Springs Galleria
17-Dec McKinney, TX Village At Fairview
18-Dec Atlanta, GA Perimeter
19-Dec San Antonio, TX Shops At La Cantera
20-Dec Pembroke Pines, FL Pembroke Lakes
21-Dec Houston, TX Memorial City
22-Dec Metairie, LA Lakeside
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