While most people are very used to seeing Santa at Macy’s this year, it seems Santa will not be present. This tradition is something most look forward to and well, it’s saddening to see that this year will be the first in about 159 years that the holly jolly man will not be present.
According to CNN Business, Santa Claus won’t be making any visits to Macy’s stores when Christmas finally gets close because of the pandemic we are currently facing. Rather than the in-person meet and greets we are used to seeing Macy’s is working to create some kind of virtual experience for those who do still want their kids to have the chance to tell Santa what it is they want for the coming holiday. While this is something that will make a lot of people mad, it does seem like the best thing to do considering how things are at the moment.
Yahoo News wrote as follows on this topic once it was brought into the light:
This holiday season, for the first time since 1861, Santa Claus won’t be visiting any Macy’s stores. After 159 years of Santa meet-and-greets, concerns about the coronavirus pandemic have put the cherished tradition on hold.
Instead, Macy’s Santaland will be transformed into an interactive, virtual experience for families to enjoy from the safety of their homes.
“At Macy’s, the safety of our customers and colleagues is paramount. To replicate the magical experience of visiting Macy’s Santaland for children and their families, we will shift to a virtual engagement this year,” Susan Tercero, Macy’s vice president of branded entertainment, said in a news release. “For many, visiting Santa at Macy’s has become a long-standing highlight of the holiday season. Macy’s is delighted to have found a way to ensure even more families can enjoy this treasured experience safely during this festive time of the year.”
Sure, Santa will be present during the parade itself but things are really going to be different this year, that’s for sure. This pandemic has changed lots of things and even Christmas will be one of those things it seems. I know, this year has been rough but as time continues to pass, perhaps a sense of normal will come. We can only hope things will be good enough by the time 2021 rolls around for Santa to be present in person for the kids who want to see him that year.