Since 1924 thousands of families turn on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade as part of their thanksgiving traditions. But what is the history behind these parade?
This parade was originally known as the Macy’s Christmas parade. It originally showcased the animals from the Central Park Zoo and the employees of Macy’s. The route went from 145 Harlem Street to the Macy store on 34 Street. The first parade was so successful it became annual thing. However the large animals from the Central Park Zoo would growl at the people watching the parade scaring the younger viewers. This is why they have the large balloons that we all know and love.
The famous balloons that it is know for did not debut until 1927. The first balloon was Felix the Cat. After the first parade it became a tradition to release the balloons into the air and let them fly above the city. This tradition became too dangerous and it stopped in 1932. Now the huge balloons are deflated at the end of every parade.
The parade quickly became so much more that balloons. It now includes marching bands and celebrity appearances. The celebrity performances began in 1958, and the Radio City Rockettes debut in 1957. The Rockettes are now a part of the iconic performances that occur every year. They dance in the parade alongside many marching bands from New York. Santa Claus is also seen every year, typically at the end of the parade. He helps bring in the holiday spirit and kick off the Christmas season.
This year there will be a lot of new characters walking in the parade. Among them the new internet trend the Labubu. The Labubu is a collectable plush character. It became famous this last year all over social media. The Labubu float showcases two 16-foot inflatable balloons that are fuzzy. This new float fills all of the parade viewers with excitement for what this float will look like.
