For many Americans and almost all New Yorkers, one of the staples of Thanksgiving Day is waking up at a semi-reasonable hour to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, an annual event wherein people gather to march down the streets of New York City from Central Park West to Herald Square accompanied by massive balloons, elaborately decorated floats, and the deafening sounds of holiday camaraderie. Started by immigrants in the 1920s who wanted to celebrate their newfound American heritage and emulate the festive gatherings of their ancestors in Europe, the parade has become an annual tradition, complete with a live television broadcast, musical acts, performances by Broadway players, and millions of New Yorkers and out-of-towners celebrating the season.
The history of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a long and storied one, and numerous changes have been implemented since its inception almost a century ago. Did you know that it was originally called the Macy’s Christmas Parade and is just one of many Thanksgiving Day parades that take place around the country? Or how about that live animals were used for the first few years before the balloons were introduced? The parade would continue to grow and develop over the years until its current incarnation. Despite these many, many changes, every year since the first parade jolly old Saint Nick awaits at the end, presumably to usher in another season of mass consumerism.
Take a look at the infographic below to learn a number of interesting, bizarre, and downright hilarious facts about this time honored Thanksgiving Day tradition.
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