Elaborate storefronts, spectacular light displays, scenic carriage rides through Central Park; the season of Christmas brings out the best in the city that never sleeps. New York officially kicks off the holiday tonight with the lighting of its massive 94-foot-tall Rockefeller Tree. But with all this preparation and elaborate decor, what exactly is the city preparing for? Two years ago, I chronicled the growing joy as Christmas approached and captured some of the best of the decor (including the incredible home displays in Brooklyn’s Dyker Heights). But all the while, I was searching for the reason for the season. I finally found it: a life-sized manger scene on 5th Avenue just south of Central Park.
The song “O Come O Come Emmanuel” was performed by Jason Silver. You can download this video (free!) on my website, www.thinginapot.com.