The first snowfall and the twinkle of lights on the Rockefeller tree—there’s a certain magic that makes Christmas in New York unforgettable

The first time I saw New York City during the holidays, I was 19, a college freshman on a whirlwind trip with my friends. It was my first real taste of winter-snow, bitter cold, and the kind of brisk air that turns your cheeks red. Coming from a place where Christmas meant palm trees with twinkle lights, the sight of NYC blanketed in snow felt like stepping into a new world. I didn’t know it then, but that trip would spark a love affair with the city that would eventually bring me back here five years later.

My First Snow, My First NYC Christmas

I still remember how the snow caught me off guard. It wasn’t the gentle, picture-perfect kind I’d imagined from movies. It was harsh, relentless, and absolutely freezing. Walking through Times Square that Black Friday, bundled up in layers that still didn’t feel like enough, I saw the city come alive in a way that felt electric.

It wasn’t just the towering billboards or the endless sales signs luring shoppers into stores at all hours of the night. It was the energy-the palpable hum of people chasing holiday deals while dodging each other in the snow. It was chaotic, overwhelming, and unforgettable. Somewhere in the madness of flashing lights and icy sidewalks, I knew I wanted to come back someday-not as a visitor, but as someone who belonged here.

The Magic of NYC’s Holiday Icons

During that trip, we did all the things you’re supposed to do when you’re experiencing Christmas in New York for the first time. We saw the Rockefeller Center tree, towering above the skating rink, every inch of it glowing like it had been plucked from a fairytale. The cold bit at my fingers as we stood there, taking it all in. For a moment, the crowds and the cold faded away, leaving only the soft twinkle of the lights and the awe of standing in front of something so iconic.

The Met was another world entirely. As someone who’d only read about it in books, stepping into its grandeur felt surreal. Wandering through the exhibits, I found myself captivated by the way history and art came alive here. Outside, the snow was falling again, but I was too caught up in the beauty around me to notice the cold.

The Broadway Moment That Changed Everything

That trip wasn’t just about the sights; it was about the moments that stayed with me long after I left. One of those moments was seeing Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Sitting in that theater, watching the chandelier crash and the Phantom’s haunting story unfold, I felt a kind of magic I couldn’t quite explain. It was more than just a show-it was a moment that made me feel alive in a way I hadn’t before.

Walking out of the theater into the snowy night, the sounds of the orchestra still echoing in my mind, I felt a connection to the city that I couldn’t shake. It was as if New York had opened its arms to me and whispered, “Come back.”

Coming Full Circle

Five years later, I did come back. I’d dreamed of living in New York ever since that first trip, and now here I was, not as a wide-eyed tourist, but as someone calling the city home. It’s funny how those early memories still feel so vivid, like they’re a part of me.

Walking through Times Square today, I still think about that freezing Black Friday night when I braved the snow for the first time. Seeing the Rockefeller tree now brings back flashes of that first trip-standing in awe of its beauty and dreaming about a future that somehow feels like the present now. Even when I catch a Broadway show, I can’t help but remember how Phantom of the Opera made me fall in love with this city in the first place.

The Spirit of a NYC Christmas

There’s something timeless about Christmas in New York. No matter how many years pass or how many times you see it, the magic never fades. The snow still glistens, the lights still dazzle, and the city still hums with that unmistakable holiday energy.

For me, it’s not just about the sights or the snow-it’s about how this city makes you feel. It’s about the way it wraps you up in its chaos, its beauty, and its magic, and leaves you with memories that last a lifetime.

A White Christmas in New York City isn’t just a holiday-it’s a story. And for me, it’s the story of a 19-year-old who fell in love with the snow, the lights, and the city that would one day become home!

(The writer is a researcher at Johns Hopkins University; views are personal)