Macy’s flagship store in Herald Square unveiled its iconic animated holiday window displays on November 16, and this year’s displays celebrate the magic of friendship with Tiptoe the reindeer as she enjoys activities with her friends, Polar Bear and Penguin. This bright-eyed reindeer has been gracing these windows in the past few years, and we are over the moon that she is back!
“The theme this year is ‘Give Love,’ and we follow the journey of our Tiptoe, our lovable Tiptoe the reindeer, with her friend and her favorite holiday themes, so each window represents something that they love to do together,” Macy’s Windows National Director Manuel Urquizo said. Each display showcases a different holiday wonderland featuring whimsical materials and interactive elements.
The first window features Tiptoe the Reindeer and her friends, Polar Bear and Penguin, with a TV playing the story of this bright-eyed reindeer.
The next window has a camera installed that lets you take a picture of yourself to be featured in the crystal ball within the display.
This is our favorite display, where Tiptoe the Reindeer and her friends, Polar Bear and Penguin, are enjoying a pinky carousel ride.
The holiday is never complete without some good music — and Tiptoe the Reindeer and her friends agree.
The origin of display windows can be traced to the Industrial Revolution between 1760 and 1840, when the widespread availability of plate glass allowed retailers to build windows spanning the lengths of their shops to display merchandise. The competition intensified as stores started to abandon the traditional method of showcasing merchandise in favor of purely decorative displays — one of the first holiday windows was put on by Macy’s.
It featured a collection of porcelain dolls and scenes from Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin . When the store moved to 34th Street in 1902, the tradition carried over with a new theme every year. Between 1926 and 1941, Macy’s holiday windows would be revealed at the Thanksgiving Parade’s termination point by Santa himself. Between 1928 and 1932, the balloons from the Parade also became a tradition at the window’s unveilings.
On November 24 through December 24, Santaland , a holiday pop-up of a 13,000-square-foot Christmas village featuring an enchanted forest, twinkling lights, snowcapped mountains, a shiny red sleigh being prepped for the big night, and more enchanting exhibits will come to Macy’s Herald Square, on the 8th floor! You will also meet Santa and chat with the big man in red about your holiday wishes or what the reindeer are up to. Reserve your spot here .