Department Stores at Christmas

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This is a photograph of the Christmas decorations at the famous Printemps department store, one of the traditional “grands magasins” (“great stores”) in Paris in the area near the Opéra Garnier. All of these department stores spend huge sums of money each year to decorate for Christmas, with the results you see here. Printemps was lit for 2000 in colors of pink and blue, with lots of sparkling lights; a very pleasing sight to which this photo does not do justice. The trees along the boulevard are also strung with lights and ornaments of matching colors.

In addition, all of these stores set up complex, animated window displays intended especially for children (complete with tiny stairs to help them see into the windows). It is a tradition in Paris to take one’s children to the department stores and spend time watching the displays in the windows.

The large department stores are enormous: Printemps alone contains four buildings and nine floors, and can easily occupy a shopper for a day or two (or three). Prices are not cheap, but merchandise is of the highest quality, and extensive services are available to help foreign tourists and visitors. All of the stores are worth a visit, if you have the time and love to shop, and Printemps is my personal favorite (others include the Galeries Lafayette, just up the street from Printemps in the background of this photo; Au Bon Marché on the Left Bank; and Samaritaine near the center of town with its rooftop restaurant overlooking the Seine river).

Photographed on December 14, 2000.