I've always liked looking at holiday windows. As a kid it was all about sugar-coated fantasies and dreams of what might be under the tree on Christmas Day. Now it's more about seeing how retailers see their customers and the idealized narratives of consumption they present. In some cases, the displays show a lifestyle the retailer would like you to believe you could acquire with the addition of a few choice items; in others, the items beckon the customer to supply a narrative that might entice him or herself into a purchase.

There are also still a few stores that are content to focus the nostalgia of classic Christmas scenes like Santa's workshop. Whatever their theme you can bet that the retailer has put considerable thought into what message they want to convey and who they imagine to be their desired customer. Here are a few highlights that can be seen around the downtown area this season.

PHOTOS

Holt's on Bloor-Plastic doll living in a gilded cage.

Also at Holt's men are represented as ringmasters putting performing animals through their paces.

Another Holt's window with a Swan Lake theme-freshly transformed from an ugly duckling?

Several places were using faux stuffed animals and had people either interacting with or wearing cuddly creatures.

At Silver Snail on Queen West it was all about heroes lending a hand

Alternate view.

And one more.

Some places were wishing for a "green" Christmas.

At The Bay the headline was "Yuletide Enjoyment" with their always popular nostalgic scenes.

Nice vest!

Cheese, please.

The feast.