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Winter in Philadelphia
Photo Credit: David Lincoln
Even City Hall is in the Holiday Spirit!
Written by Sam Lincoln and Lexi Harder Staff Writers
It’s that time of year again. As temperatures get colder and snow starts to fall, cities across the nation light up with holiday cheer and generally festive displays of merriment. The wishlist-inspired decals on the windows of Starbucks do not vary much from state to state, but Philly has many winter traditions that set it apart from cities across the nation.
David Lincoln
One of Philadelphia’s most well known winter traditions is the Christmas Light Show at Macy’s. This fantastic show has been taking place in the Macy’s Center city for over fifty years. Children and adults alike will be amazed by the giant LED display of reindeer, candy canes, snowmen, ballerinas, and Santa Claus. Julie Andrews’ voice narrates the stories taking place on the massive blue curtain while listening to the Wanamaker Organ concert. The show runs from November 27th to December 31st.
Philadelphia has many different, exciting things going on in the arts during the holiday season. The Nutcraker is being presented by the Pennsylvania Ballet December 12th through 31st. Dancers leap and twirl across the stage in a world full of mice, fairies, and magic. Or visit old Scrooge at the Walnut Street theatre, where A Christmas Carol is being shown. Fans of legendary conducter Peter Nero and the Philly Pops hear both of them together, live at the Kimmel Center, from December 5th to the 20th.
Located on Dilworth Plaza, The Christmas Village is a seasonal shopping center set up for the holidays. Philadelphians come to do their gift shopping, get holiday decorations, or just to grab a bite to eat. The Christmas Village is open until December 24th.
December 25th is the best day of the year for many children. Setting out milk and cookies, going to bed so excited and unable to sleep. Waking up, and finding the new Xbox Santa brought you…unless you do not celebrate Christmas. And if you fall into that category, the Gershman Y is hosting the “Moo Shu Jew Show” for everyone who knew Santa was a lie right from the start. The Moo Shu Jew Shoe is an annual event in Chinatown on December 24th and 25th, this year at the Joy Tsin Lau restaurant. Attendees can enjoy a delicious eight-course meal of yummy Chinese food while listening to some stand up comedy. The Gershman Y will also host on fun seasonal event, on December 13th – Latkepalooza. This Hanukkah celebration has samples of gourmet latkes from over ten fine Philadelphia restaurants, including Max and David’s, Estia, and Sabrina’s café. Enjoy your potato pancakes while they’re hot!
It is time to celebrate Kwanzaa at the African American Museum of Philadelphia. Kwanzaa is a seven-day holiday celebrated almost exclusively in the United States to honor African heritage. Come from noon to four on December 26th through January 1st to join in the celebration, watch the candle lighting, learn a little more about a holiday you might not have known too much about, and just have a good time.
If you are not going to attending festivals, you can always experience winter in Philadelphia by just taking a look around the city. Blue and silver, red and green, brightly hued ornaments line streets and adorn trees in every section of Philly. Hardly a branch bereft of leaves is seen without a shiny orb dangling from it, glinting in the sunlight. The Comcast Center is bedecked in boughs of holly and piney branches and a display of tantalizing wrapped presents contained in boxes incomprehensibly large. And familiar to many is the traditional tree adorning the water tower that looms over the expressway, an example of Cheer in the most unlikely place.
Though the winter winds may blow and ice may accumulate on streets and sidewalks, there is enough to see and do in Philadelphia that you may never even notice the cold.
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