The primary Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade was held on this day in history, Nov. 27, 1924, and came about on the streets of New York Metropolis.
A far cry from the hours-long parades of the trendy period, the parade in 1924 was a a lot easier affair — and was not even centered on the Thanksgiving vacation.
“Macy’s Christmas Parade,” because it was known as, kicked off at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day in 1924.
The parade had not one of the larger-than-life balloons it’s identified for at present, however it did have animals from the close by Central Park Zoo.
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, NOVEMBER 26
The parade route was six miles lengthy, beginning in Harlem and going to Herald Sq. — the house of Macy’s Herald Sq. flagship retailer, because the Historical past Channel’s web site famous.
On the time, Macy’s had simply completed an growth of its Herald Sq. retailer. The parade was meant as each a celebration of the brand new growth and a option to promote for the upcoming Christmas season.
The primary Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in 1924 — known as the Macy’s Christmas Parade — featured floats impressed by nursery rhymes, similar to this “Little Miss Muffet” float. (Macy’s)
And whereas the parade route was six miles lengthy, the parade itself was solely two blocks, notes the Historical past Channel.
Spectators might watch the parade in “just a matter of minutes,” the location identified.
The parade had floats that matched the nursery-rhyme theme of the Christmas home windows on show at Macy’s that yr, stated Historical past.com.
MEET THE AMERICAN WHO GAVE THE NATION OUR THANKSGIVING ORIGIN STORY: PILGRIM EDWARD WINSLOW
These included “There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe,” “Little Miss Muffet,” and “Little Red Riding Hood.”
Macy’s employees have been in costume as clowns, cowboys and knights to additional complement the nursery-rhyme theme.
The 1924 Macy’s Christmas parade ended with the arrival of Santa Claus — a convention that continues to today. (Macy’s)
The parade ended with a float that includes Santa Claus and his reindeer.
The custom of Santa’s arrival on the finish of the parade continues to today.
The parade has been held each Thanksgiving — aside from the years 1942-1944 throughout World Battle II.
Santa Claus has ended the parade annually, aside from 1932 — when he led the parade, stated Macy’s web site.
The parade proved to be highly regarded. An estimated 10,000 individuals got here out to observe the parade, and Macy’s vowed it will maintain one other one the next yr.
The parade has been held each single Thanksgiving, aside from the years 1942-1944 throughout World War II.
The choice to characteristic reside animals on the first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade didn’t final lengthy. As a substitute, the reside animals have been changed by balloons. Felix the Cat, in entrance — the primary balloon — debuted in 1927. (George Rinhart/Corbis through Getty Pictures)
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has undergone many modifications all through the years.
Whereas the primary parade had reside bears, elephants, camels and monkeys, the animals didn’t deal with the lengthy route and the screaming crowds very nicely — and didn’t make a return.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
They have been changed as a substitute with the now-iconic balloons, which debuted in 1927, in response to the web site for Architectural Digest.
Though the parade route itself is now a lot shorter — solely about 2.5 miles — the variety of individuals and floats within the parade has grown significantly since 1924.
The Tom Turkey float is seen on the 2023 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 23, 2023, in New York Metropolis. This yr’s parade featured an estimated 5,000 volunteers. (Wang Fan/China Information Service/VCG through Getty Pictures)
In 2023, the parade featured “5,000 volunteers, 16 featured character balloons, 26 fantastic floats, 32 heritage and novelty balloons, more than 700 clowns, 12 marching bands and nine performance groups,” stated Macy’s web site.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
This yr, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began at 8:30 a.m., half an hour sooner than it ever had earlier than.
For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.
