Good Books For Young Souls: Here's to a Spectacular Christmas!

I highly recommend Radio City Music Hall's "Christmas Spectacular" to anyone visiting New York City around the Christmas holidays. The theatre itself is nostalgic (and cavernous, with lots of seating). We were touched and inspired by the glorious Living Nativity at the end. But first, there was singing and dancing...and those Rockettes can do more than just kick!

The Radio City "Christmas Spectacular" was first performed in 1933, (it was the second year the Music Hall was in operation.) For this first Christmas show, the film "Flying Down to Rio" was screened, followed by a symphony performance, a toy shop ballet, the Rockettes performing "The March of the Wooden Soldiers," and a full-scale living nativity scene to close out the show.

Over the years, the Christmas Spectacular has evolved, but there are many mainstays. Each year the show begins with the arrival of Santa, who acts as host for the evening. A scene always follows from the "Nutcracker," with the Rockettes performing the now-iconic "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers."

My husband and I enjoyed every minute of the show. As I mentioned, there is still a beautiful living nativity scene at the end - complete with live camels, donkeys and sheep surrounding the holy family. Finally the show closes with a Rockette, kick-filled grand finale. No doubt about it, New York knows how to celebrate Christmas!