7 Ways Philadelphians Celebrate the Holidays

2. And whole neighborhood joins in on the holiday joy.

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A post shared by Jim Cheney (@uncoveringpa) on Dec 9, 2018 at 4:24pm PST

In the US, it’s relatively common to see one or two houses on a block that are a blur of holiday madness, but to get an entire street or block that’s collaborating on the over-the-top decor is something you only see in Philly. 13th Street is the most famous example, but coordinated blocks exist all over the city.

3. We enjoy the sights, sounds, and memories of the Macy’s Light Show.

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A post shared by Gabriel & Dresden (@gabrielndresden) on Dec 23, 2017 at 9:43am PST

What the Macy’s Christmas Light Show is to us was previously the John Wanamaker Christmas Light Show to our parents. Other than the name, little else has changed over the decades, including the famous Wanamaker organ. In a time of rapid growth in the city, it’s good to know that some things do remain the same.

4. We treat holiday and game prep as the same.

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A post shared by seth (@cheesesteaks22) on Dec 9, 2018 at 6:43am PST

Every year, at least one of our sports teams is scheduled to play on Christmas Day — either the Eagles or the Sixers. If we’ve been especially good that year, we may even get a rare doubleheader. Timing is essential when balancing food, family, religious celebrations, and sports. With the right planning, you can go to church, open presents, have dinner, and watch a game without feeling like any aspect of the day has been neglected. The only question is what jersey will accent your holiday attire.

5. We take a stroll through the Christmas Village.

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A post shared by Christmas Village Philadelphia (@philachristmas) on Nov 13, 2018 at 3:07pm PST

The Christmas Village has only been around for a decade, but it fits in so well that it feels like it has been part of our holiday celebration for much longer. It’s hard to imagine a time when we didn’t wander around Center City with a mug of mulled wine in our hands while browsing unique gift ideas next to the LOVE statue.

6. We indulge in maximum carb intake at Latkepalooza.

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A post shared by Amy Kritzer 🔯 Jewish Food (@whatjewwannaeat) on Jul 24, 2019 at 6:22am PDT

Good food transcends labels. It doesn’t matter whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, or Festivus, latkes are exactly the kind of dense, hearty food we live for. Add in several restaurants giving their twist on the brilliance of the potato pancakes and you have a Philly foodie’s holiday delight.

7. We eat our way through the joy of the season.

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A post shared by Shane Confectionery (@shaneconfectionery) on Dec 4, 2018 at 9:23am PST

The sights and smells of Philly during the holidays make it impossible to ignore the good eats that await us. We stop at Shane Confectionery for holiday gifts for loved ones and a few treats we don’t plan to share. We enjoy the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve. We get pies and fruitcakes from Bredenbeck’s. And we savor the smells of Termini Bros busily preparing cookies, cakes, and cannolis to bring smiles and pounds to our homes.