cheerfulOn Monday, I took photos of some of the holiday decorations in Center City and Old City Philadelphia.
A decorated Christmas tree, surrounded by snow, in front of City Hall.
Every year, Philadelphia marks the winter holidays
with ornaments affixed to the potted bushes along Market Street.
In the first Macy's window, a little girl mails a letter to Santa in a red mailbox
marked "Santa Mail" while a little white dog stares longingly out the window.
A closeup of the white dog in the first window display at Macy's.
The poem paired with the first Macy's window reads:
"Right in the mailbox your letter goes,
Up at the Pole, Santa twitches his nose
Elves look on, unnoticed, unseen.
Your letter falls into a place like a dream.
Down it drifts with your list of good deeds.
Filled with wishes, it gathers speed."
As a bonus, you can me in the reflection.
The second Macy's window shows an elf surrounded by whirling letters.
The poem with the second Macy's window reads:
"As if through a mirror your letter travels,
entering a world where logic unravels.
A dreamlike realm where elves come into view.
As envelopes whirl, they grab at a few,
checking for who's been the best little kid.
Who's been polite? What nice things you said."
The third Macy's window features what looks like a fanciful mail sorting machine.
The poem with the third Macy's window reads:
"Never berfore has this marvel been seen —
a remarkable blend of elf and machine
One by one each letter is ranked
Who ate their peas? Who 'pleased' and 'thanked'?
At a feverish pace, the mail is inspected.
No letter ignored. No bad, undetected."
In Macy's fourth window, a silver-faced creature
directs flying letters in a wintry landscape.
A silver-faced, somewhat menacing figure in a red onesie directs flying letters.
The poem with the fourth Macy's window reads:
"Here 'tis the magic of Flight Control,
a wondrous place at the top of the Pole
Flocks of letters are readied for landing
from children deemed to be in good standing.
Light as a feather, the mail touches down,
and then travels on, Santa Claus-bound"
In the fifth and final Macy's window, Santa reclines
in a red rocking chair and reads a letter.
The sign on the fifth and final Macy's window reads:
"Finally, children, for your viewing pleasure —
the hero of the day! The man without measure!
How jolly he is. See how he beams?
Santa finds your words worthwhile, it seems.
Your spirit level's been metered and weighed,
and I'm please to say you've made the grade.
We do hope you enjoyed your flight.
Now please exit to the right.
Always remember joy is yours to receive
when deep in your heart, you truly believe."
This large menorah is on Independence Mall.
Moral:
Macy's Christmas windows can sometimes be vaguely disurbing.
