Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, ice skating at Rockefeller Center, snow glistening in Central Park, and the famous Christmas tree lighting…these are usually the first images that appear when you think of Christmas in New York City! The seasonal tradition continues this year with tourists and spectators from around the world traveling to the Big Apple to witness the magical city that never sleeps. One of the biggest attractions of this season is the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center, and even getting to witness the tree illuminate is no cost at all making that the best New York holiday deal around. Another appeal to people are the on or off Broadway shows you can see like any other day, but for Winter, The Nutcracker is being performed at Lincoln Center. This show only runs from late-November to early-January, so hurry and get your tickets!

Have you ever wondered how we’ve gotten to the present day image of Santa? People say New York City “invented” the Christmas we have today, which in a way can be true. At first, there was no single, standard image of Santa Claus. But in the 1860s, the great American political cartoonist, Thomas Nast, contributed drawings to Harper’s Weekly — a New York publication — of that jolly, bearded, plump man we know and love today. So, next time you visit New York City, embrace the bliss and festive aura that are sure to come your way once you step foot on its grounds.

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