Macys thanksgiving day history
LeAnne Munoz
Issue date: 11/23/09 Section: Entertainment
When a person thinks about Thanksgiving Day, their mind will ultimately drift toward thoughts of turkey, pumpkin pie, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. This Turkey Day staple has captured the hearts of many for over 80 years.
The Macy's Parade, which was originally the Macy's Christmas Parade, first made its debut in 1924. During the first few years of its inception, the parade was organized by employees of the Macy's department store. Each year, the parade consisted of floats, performing bands, live animals from the Central Park Zoo with store employees, professional entertainers and Santa Claus himself marching into New York City's famous Herald Square.
The store owners decided to make the parade an annual occurrence and introduced its first large balloon into the spectacle in 1927 - Felix the Cat. According to nyctourist.com, the tradition was to release the balloons at the end of the parade as a grand finale. The balloons were designed with safety valves allowing them to float for days, but also had a Macy's department store address sewn onto them, so whoever found the balloon could return it to the store and receive a $100 reward. However, according to a Time magazine article about the parade, the tradition was ended when in 1932 a wayward balloon wrapped itself around the wing of a passing airplane, sending it crashing into the ground.
Since that time, the Macy's Day Parade has housed a myriad of different characters, from the first appearance of a Mickey Mouse balloon in 1934 to the first appearance of Kermit the Frog in 1977. Celebrities have also made their way into the parade festivities. According to nyctourist.com, such celebrities as Sid Ceaser and Howdy Doody have made appearances, as well as the ever popular and famous Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.
This parade has seen its fair share of gloomy days. In 1942 through 1944, the parade was canceled due to World War II when the rubber used to make the balloons was rationed. The parade was also canceled due to high winds in 1971. Yet even through the trials and tribulations of high winds, cold weather and lost balloons, this holiday tradition has prevailed for many years; and is likely to continue for many years to come.
This year the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will start on Thanksgiving morning at 8 a.m. on NBC.
The Macy's Parade, which was originally the Macy's Christmas Parade, first made its debut in 1924. During the first few years of its inception, the parade was organized by employees of the Macy's department store. Each year, the parade consisted of floats, performing bands, live animals from the Central Park Zoo with store employees, professional entertainers and Santa Claus himself marching into New York City's famous Herald Square.
The store owners decided to make the parade an annual occurrence and introduced its first large balloon into the spectacle in 1927 - Felix the Cat. According to nyctourist.com, the tradition was to release the balloons at the end of the parade as a grand finale. The balloons were designed with safety valves allowing them to float for days, but also had a Macy's department store address sewn onto them, so whoever found the balloon could return it to the store and receive a $100 reward. However, according to a Time magazine article about the parade, the tradition was ended when in 1932 a wayward balloon wrapped itself around the wing of a passing airplane, sending it crashing into the ground.
Since that time, the Macy's Day Parade has housed a myriad of different characters, from the first appearance of a Mickey Mouse balloon in 1934 to the first appearance of Kermit the Frog in 1977. Celebrities have also made their way into the parade festivities. According to nyctourist.com, such celebrities as Sid Ceaser and Howdy Doody have made appearances, as well as the ever popular and famous Radio City Music Hall Rockettes.
This parade has seen its fair share of gloomy days. In 1942 through 1944, the parade was canceled due to World War II when the rubber used to make the balloons was rationed. The parade was also canceled due to high winds in 1971. Yet even through the trials and tribulations of high winds, cold weather and lost balloons, this holiday tradition has prevailed for many years; and is likely to continue for many years to come.
This year the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will start on Thanksgiving morning at 8 a.m. on NBC.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
bobby neshert
posted 11/28/09 @ 12:03 PM CST
hi. i love you jane. will you marry me tonight on the veranda? itll be a small rendezvous, just you and me. please say yes or else i hate you
russian singles
posted 3/28/10 @ 10:42 AM CST
I like articles like this. Great Article! Thanks!
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