Marching into History: The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’s Colorful Cavalcade

Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines — Every Thanksgiving (9:00 PM PHT) , as the first delicious bites of turkey hit our taste buds, a wave of wonder washes over us. Giant balloons, dazzling floats, and the infectious energy of marching bands paint the skies above in a spectacle unlike any other – the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! But have you ever stopped to wonder, how did this iconic tradition come to be?

Believe it or not, the parade’s roots can be traced back to 1863, when Macy’s, then known as R.H. Macy & Co., decided to treat its employees to a Thanksgiving Day celebration. Talk about a perk! This celebration included a march from 14th Street to Union Square in New York City, featuring live animals from Central Park Zoo. Can you imagine a parade with lions and elephants trotting down the street?

Fast forward to 1924, and the parade, as we know it, began to take shape. Macy’s introduced the first giant character balloons – Felix the Cat and Balloony the Clown – kicking off a tradition that would become synonymous with the parade. These weren’t your average balloons, mind you! Felix the Cat soared a whopping 40 feet above the crowd, a true titan of inflatable proportions.

The first televised broadcast of the parade came in 1947, bringing the magic of the Macy’s spectacle into living rooms across the nation. Since then, the parade has become a cherished part of Thanksgiving tradition, a way to kick off the holiday season with a bang (or rather, a giant, inflatable Snoopy balloon popping sound!).

Of course, over the years, there have been a few unforgettable moments that added to the parade’s lore. In 1977, a rogue wind gust caused Kermit the Frog to take an unplanned detour, bobbing and weaving through the streets until he was safely wrangled. In 1997, Spongebob Squarepants made his debut as a balloon, but unfortunately, a malfunction caused him to shed a tear (or rather, leak air from his eye). These mishaps, though sometimes alarming, only add to the parade’s charm and remind us of the live, unpredictable nature of this beloved event.

So this Thanksgiving, as you settle in to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, remember – it’s not just about the spectacle. It’s about the history, the tradition, and the spirit of celebration that Macy’s started over a century ago. It’s a reminder that a simple idea, a march to celebrate with employees, can blossom into a cherished tradition that brings joy to millions every year. Happy Thanksgiving, and happy holidays from WPS.News!