Friday, December 16, 2011

David Jones Christmas Window Display for 2011 (and a cheeky visual Mondegreen!)

It’s been a Sydney Christmas tradition since even before I was a child (and let’s just say that was some years ago). Thousands visit the decorated windows of David Jones Elizabeth Street store where automated marionettes wave, nod, walk and dance to broadcast Christmas songs and carols, and little children stand and point, wide-eyed with wonder, at the whimsical telling of the Christmas story. The people-watching is almost as engrossing as the show!

Last week when I visited, Santa was dozing in his chair, a little weary from all his toy-making.

IMG_0226

But the Main Event was still given pride of place.

IMG_0232

Curious animals watched on as Mary and Joseph laid the newborn baby Jesus “away in a manger”.

IMG_0222

The shepherds watching “their flocks by night” looked up with suitably amazed expressions as “the angel of the Lord came down and glory shone around”.

IMG_0233

IMG_0221

“We Three Kings” in exotic costumes, leading gentle-eyed camels, brought him their precious gifts.

IMG_0231

 

IMG_0230

Even a little mouse, riding on a magic carpet, appeared to be bringing a gift. The tag on the little purple sack reads “To Mary and Joseph, with all our cheese. Pip and Barry Squeak xo”.

IMG_0229

By now you’re probably wondering about the Mondegreen. (And if you’re asking yourself “What exactly is a Mondegreen?” click here)

Tucked away in a bottom corner of the shepherds’ window, where you could easily overlook them, I spotted this pair of shepherds, sitting on the ground engrossed in a particular task.

Perhaps it’s just my corny sense of humour, but it made me laugh (and laugh!)

IMG_0224

Can you work out the MondegreenWinking smile

Di

8 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness! I laughed too. I'm grinning cheek to cheek as I write this. Thanks so much for the link to enlighten me about a mondegreen. An interesting phenomena that finally has a term applied to it! "While shepherds washed their... " I don't want to give it all away. Thanks for the fun post!

    ReplyDelete
  2. How wonderful! Shepherds wash their socks by night!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I never knew there was an actual term to describe this. Thanks for sharing and it was wonderful to see your pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yes, I got it......I remember singing that at school, so it's been around for quite a while!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Perhaps they really did wash their socks after all! LOL
    Thanks for the photos - I don't think I'm going to get there this year!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Fun! Thanks for sharing the Christmas displays, Di. I really love stuff like this. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a lovely display. I much prefer that to the toy themed Myer windows in Melbourne.
    Goodness me.....did I actually say something in Sydney was better than Melbourne........LOL.
    Thanks for your visit Di, I have done a little more playing. All in an attempt to avoid writing a Christmas letter.
    Shame on moi

    ReplyDelete
  8. We went to have a look at the window yesterday. It was sunny so it was hard to get photos as good as your ones. I hope DJ's never stop doing this.

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear from you, so please leave me a comment.