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Philly Voted Top City For Holiday Spirit By Magazine That Must Have Missed the "Christmas Village" Debacle

In the wake of the "Christmas Village" fiasco that dominated headlines last week, Philly has been named the best city to celebrate holiday spirit by U.S. Airways Magazine.

The city announced the news in a press release today. Philadelphia was ranked first among 15 cities, based in part on the Christmas light shows and organ concerts at Macy's, formerly John Wanamakers.

No mention is made in the press release of the "Christmas Village" controversy, first reported by the Daily News. That scandal erupted last week after workers were spotted taking the word Christmas off the archways into the traditional German Christmas Village outside City Hall in Dilworth Plaza. The organizer took down the word after Managing Director Richard Negrin told him the city had received complaints.

After the move garnered national news coverage, Mayor Nutter announced that the word Christmas would be restored to the signs.