During the Christmas and Chanukah holidays the world becomes a place of fantasy. It seems that everybody is happy or at least trying to appear happy. Trees and candles everywhere reminding us of youthful memories and holidays well spent with loving families.

The department stores in Manhattan really go into this big time. The windows are dressed beautifully with gorgeous mannequins wearing the most magnificent and fashionable clothes. These figures move, in some cases electronically, and they represent a world of ease and friendship.

Decorating the windows at Macy's, Saks, Lord & Taylor and Bloomingdale's is an art form. The window dressers are inventive and use multi-media ideas to make the pedestrians stop and wonder at the beauty and creativity of the department store windows.

It brings me back to The Bronx and my father and mother's dry goods store. It was a small store at 971 East 174th Street between Bryant Avenue and Vyse Avenue on the north side of the street. Fifteen small stores were run by businessmen in those days on that block. If you go there now you will see a block-long Pathmark Store selling everything from fruits and vegetables to pharmaceuticals to dry goods to anything you can possibly need living in The Bronx. I am not sure it is an improvement, but I guess it is called progress.

My father got very excited when it came time for the window dresser to arrive. Two small windows were all that was there, but it was important to display all the new merchandise that was available.

The window dresser entered the premises with all his pins, cardboards and little stands on which to place items. Every inch was well thought out and it took a bit of genius to make the impression that he sought. It was small but elegant. My father's chest was swollen with pride when the job was done.

The large department stores were in a different league than my parents' store in the East Bronx. Alexander's on Fordham Road ruled all stores in that time.

Those gorgeous windows did not just happen by accident.

In these holidays I tip my hat to the artists called "Window Dressers."

Happy Holidays!