Magazine names Phila. No. 1 for holiday spirit

In Dickensian irony, the city that banned "Christmas" for about two days from the Christmas Village at City Hall, has been praised for having the best holiday spirit in the land.

In its December issue, U.S. Airways Magazine names Philadelphia the best city - better than New York, London, San Francisco and 11 other cities - for celebrating "the holiday spirit." And it owes it mostly to Macy's - formerly the John Wanamaker department store on Market Street.

The magazine cited the store's hourly Christmas light show in the Grand Court that draws thousands from Black Friday through New Year's Eve, the daily concert performances from the historic century-old Wanamaker organ, and the Dickens Christmas Village, once a feature of the former Strawbridge and Clothier Department Store where animated characters tell the tale of the classic "A Christmas Carol," and believers can bring Santa their Christmas wishes.

"Philadelphia is a generous, passionate, spirited city," said Jack Ferguson, incoming President & CEO of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, "where everyone is welcome from around the globe."