Macy’s has announced the end of an 80-year tradition where children visit Santa Claus at its Union Square location in San Francisco. The iconic Santa, who traditionally appears at the store following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, will instead embark on a national tour to reach new communities across the country.
In a statement reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, Macy’s officials confirmed that Santa will not be available at the Union Square store this year. “Instead, he will be going on a national tour to visit stores and communities he hasn’t had a chance to appear in before, following his national arrival at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade,” the statement read.
The decision has left many San Francisco shoppers disappointed. Yvonne Fletcher and her husband, Adrian, expressed their feelings to Yahoo News, stating, “It seems weird without Santa Claus. I can’t bring my grandkids, and that’s what we were waiting for.”
Another local shopper, Briseyda, shared her sentiments with ABC 7 News, emphasizing the significance of this tradition. “It’s a tradition. That’s what we look forward to. It’s heartbreaking. I have kids of my own. The one thing they look forward to is Santa. The fact they’re not going to have that, it’s not tradition at all. Christmas is all about traditions and memories. Santa brings everyone together,” she explained.
Santa has been a staple at Macy’s Union Square since the late 1940s, with the exception of the pandemic in 2020. Families would line up to take pictures with Santa and share their Christmas wish lists. The beloved role was notably held by “Santa John” from approximately 1990 to 2010, creating cherished memories for countless families.
As the holiday season approaches, the absence of Santa at Union Square marks a significant change for many who have made the annual visit part of their Christmas celebrations. The shift to a national tour may introduce Santa to new audiences, but it also signals the end of a long-standing tradition that residents of San Francisco have come to cherish.
