Beloved Macy’s holiday tradition comes to an end after 80 years

When you grow up Jewish, Santa Claus seems a little ridiculous.

I mean, religion requires faith, but believing that a magical old man rode a flying sleigh bringing toys to all the Christian children in the world seemed like something most kids would be skeptical about.

But in reality, many children believe up to a certain age, and others participate in this ritual because it involves receiving gifts on Christmas morning.

Part of Santa’s ritual has always been to take a photo with Jolly Old St. Nick, sitting on his lap, and tell him what he wants for Christmas.

Some kids do it at specially booked photo shoots, while others go to the mall.

I think most kids know that the mall Santa is more of an ambassador for the big man than the actual man himself. Still, parents take their kids to meet him, and the kids either cry hysterically or have their photos taken and note their gift choices before moving on.

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For people living in San Francisco for nearly 80 years, this tradition meant taking their children to Macy’s Union Square. This has been a long-established tradition that has been around for generations, but it won’t happen this year.

It looks like Santa Claus won’t be coming to town, at least not for San Franciscans who enjoy visiting him at Macy’s Union Square.

Macy’s has quietly ended its tradition of having Santa travel from the Thanksgiving Day Parade to its store in San Francisco’s Union Square.

The chain explained this decision in a way that implied there was no option to hire multiple Santas to visit different stores.

“This year, Macy’s Santa will not be present at our Union Square location. Instead, following his national arrival at the (New York) Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, he will embark on a national tour to visit stores and communities where he has not previously had the chance to appear,” Macy’s officials said. San Francisco Chronicle.

Macy’s added that the holiday season magic will continue in Union Square with the SF SPCA Holiday Windows and Macy’s Great Tree presented by Ripple.

‘It looks weird without Santa,’ Yvonne Fletcher and husband Adrian say Yahoo News. “I can’t bring my grandchildren, we were waiting for this.”

• About an 80-year tradition: Santa Claus has been appearing at Macy’s Union Square store every year since the store’s opening. late 1940s According to the data, it continues almost every year until 2025 (except the pandemic year). San Francisco Chronicle.

• Local cultural touchstone: Families line up to visit and take photos with Santa every holiday season, making it a Bay Area tradition. San Francisco Chronicle added.

• The same Santa Claus for decades: From roughly 1990 to 2010, that role was played by the beloved “Santa John,” whose appearance became iconic in local family photos. Title.

• No Santa Claus in 2025: For the first time in nearly 80 years, Macy’s has endorsed Santa Claus It won’t be in Union Square As he embarks on a national tour following the Thanksgiving parade this holiday season, he shared: ABC7 San Francisco.

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Margarita Hernandez, who visited the Union Square Santa Claus as a child, was unaware of the change and brought her daughter with her.

“I think we’ll go find another Santa,” he said. he told reporters“It’s so sad. We’ve been bringing him here since he was a baby.”

Macy’s actually fired the famous Santa John Toomey.

“This 2010 incident remains one of Union Square’s most memorable holiday dramas. Toomey was fired after an adult couple filed a complaint about a jolly joke he’d been telling for decades: When adults would ask why Santa was so jolly, he’d say it was because he knew where all the naughty boys and girls lived.” Title reported.

He was not rehired by Macy’s, but was hired by a local restaurant and remained there for a year before passing away.

For many families, this is an important tradition.

Leigh Eric Schmidt, author of “Consumer Rites: The Buying and Selling of American Holidays,” described the evolution of Santa Claus in department stores and malls: Catholic Online.

This reflects a deeper cultural truth, he said.

“The tradition of visiting Santa in the store is more than a commercial venture; it’s about creating lasting memories and experiencing the joy of the season,” he shared.

• Origin in 1924: The first Macy’s parade was held 27 November 1924originally called Macy’s Christmas Paradeand featured floats, live animals, performers and Santa Claus. NBC.

• Central role of Santa Claus: Santa Claus historically end of paradeIt marks the symbolic start of the Christmas season every year since the first event. Encyclopedia Britannica.

• Start of annual holiday: Despite being renamed Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade He added (by 1927) that Santa’s presence remained an important ceremonial moment that ushered in holiday shopping and festivities Encyclopedia Britannica.

• Almost continuous past: The parade took place Every year since 1924, except World War II (1942-1944)According to him, it has become ingrained in the American holiday tradition. NBC.

Cultural historians note that Santa’s appearance is not just commercial; ritualistic

“We culminate at the very end of the parade with a Santa opening the holiday displays on 34th Street,” said Valerie Paley, chief historian of the New York Historical Society. CBS NewsHe explains that the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has long served as a symbolic kickoff to the holiday season.

Related: Walmart sees shift in consumer behavior

This story was first published by . Street First appeared on December 20, 2025 Retail section. Add TheStreet at: Preferred Source by clicking here.