New York holds many rituals, although very few possess the power to resuscitate the spirit the way the Rockettes do.

Their Christmas Spectacular has always been a glitter-drenched rite of the season, yet this 100th anniversary carries a different kind of voltage—gentler, brighter, almost defiant in its joy. The moment the curtain rises, the city’s collective armor melts, and even the most elegant, world-weary adult becomes a breathless child again. After a dark year, that transformation feels less like entertainment and more like medicine.

The precision of the Wooden Soldiers remains hypnotic—an ode to discipline so perfect it borders on transcendence. The many Santas burst in next, creating a gleeful avalanche of red velvet and holiday chaos that feels oddly cathartic. Their sheer abund

See Full Page