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Yuletide Cheer

© Jeanne-Michele Vigna

There is no need to play "The Gift of the Magi" this Christmas. If you are willing to brave the cold weather, New York City offers a bevy of free things to do and see during the holiday season.

The most popular spot is an 11-acre radius in midtown Manhattan from 49th to 52nd Streets, Fifth to Seventh Avenues and Rockefeller Center the core of Christmas cheer. Each year, millions of people embark on a journey to this holiday Mecca. The traditional horn-blowing angels occupy the plaza in Rockefeller Center, and, of course, in the middle of it all is the infamous, monstrous, memorable Christmas tree. The tradition of the tree began back in 1931 during the dark days of the depression. Rockefeller Center was just breaking ground during the holiday season and workmen placed a Christmas tree on the construction site representing their joy for the precious jobs. These days the tree is usually donated by a metro area resident, and this year's strapping spruce (approximately 80-feet tall) was provided by William and Frances Heady of Buchannan, N.Y.

No trip to Rockefeller Center is complete without looking in the department store windows along the way. It is this time of year when designers create little holiday worlds behind the pane glass calling passersby to gaze in awe. Lord and Taylor is probably the most famous of holiday windows, complete with velvet rope and long lines. Each year, thousands of people line up to Fifth Avenue between 38th and 39th Streets to see miniature figurines dance, ice skate, sleigh ride and sing. No other store goes to the lengths that Lord and Taylor does. And with quick moving lines, it is well worth the wait.

Basic holiday displays can be seen in other store windows, such as pixie-like mannequins with dew kissed faces and white cashmere clothes. Or glass and crystal displays portraying wintery scenes. Barney's windows depict holiday scenes based around a particular decade, such as the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

High above 57th Street and Fifth Avenue, a giant snowflake hovers over the popular corner home to Bergdorf Goodman and Tiffany's. Just up the block from the snowflake, The Plaza Hotel is dressed to the nines. Across the street is, FAO Schwarz, the famous toy store, which is just as famous for its long line of shoppers during Christmas. If you like extreme sports, full contact sports, and have an affiliation for madness, FAO Schwartz is a must at Christmastime.

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