I love Miracle on 34th Street. The original 1947 version, of course. In black and white, with Maureen O’Hara, whom I will watch in practically anything.

Half expecting to see Maureen O’Hara standing right here!

Seventy years later, this movie still stands up. In fact, in an age of Black Fridays and Cyber Mondays and Boxing Week Blowouts, the film’s anti-commercialism message is even more relevant.

Plus, it’s funny and charming and clever, and pretty much guaranteed to make you feel good.

I’ve loved Miracle on 34th Street since I was a kid, so it’s probably not surprising that, when I visited New York in 2008, a stop at Macy’s was one of the highlights of the trip. Did you know that Macy’s has 9 floors? And that the escalators taking you to the topmost stories are creaky, narrow, wooden originals? True fact. Kelsey, one of my Sisters of the Traveling Chocolate, and I rode every single one of them.

And then we took a picture of the sign for the United States Post Office location that’s inside the store. If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll know why.

Excellent Vanna pose, Kelsey!

Do you have a favourite holiday movie? Ever have a chance to visit a place that you fell in love with on film? Share in the comments!