Current:Home > Contact-usThe first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade featured live animals (bears and elephants)-InfoLens
The first Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade featured live animals (bears and elephants)
View Date:2024-12-23 16:06:59
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade has been enjoyed by millions since it launched almost a century ago, but many may not know that the holiday staple initially featured live animals.
The parade began in 1924 as the Macy's Christmas Parade. The spectacle was put on by store employees in New York City with the hope that it would inspire people to shop – and yes, it featured animals from the Central Park Zoo.
The initial parade had a circus-like vibe with bears, elephants, camels and monkeys making their way down the 6-mile parade route from Harlem to Herald Square. The animals were followed by four bands and the parade also featured characters from popular nursery rhymes.
2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade:When and where to watch, plus who's performing
When Macy's hosted the parade again the following year, they opted out of featuring the animals. According to History.com, the animals were not too thrilled to be paraded around. Their roars and growls scared many of the onlookers, especially kids.
Macy's then chose to have less frightening character balloons. Those balloons became a staple of the parade moving forward.
Healthiest Turkey Day sides:You're missing these two things on the Thanksgiving table
How the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade evolved
It wasn't until 1927 that the large helium-filled iconic characters that we now know and love began to be implemented into the celebration. That year, artist and puppeteer Tony Sarg designed a Felix the Cat balloon.
Over the years, the parade has scaled back from the 6-mile route of the inaugural parade to the 2.5-miles-long stretch it is today. While the parade ditched the live animals, it grew to include intricate floats, celebrities, performances and marching bands and cheerleaders. Despite being held on Thanksgiving, a cheery Santa Claus still makes an appearance.
In 1934, Macy's marked it's first collaboration with Walt Disney by introducing a Mickey Mouse balloon.
The parade wouldn't be televised nationally until 1947.
The parade was only ever cancelled a handful of times including three years during World War II and in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While this year's parade won't feature any elephants or camels, it's set to feature 25 balloons, 31 floats, and 18 celebrities.
Thanksgiving travel:Best travel days and tips to avoid holiday traffic mayhem
veryGood! (46)
Related
- Hill House Home’s Once-A-Year Sale Is Here: Get 30% off Everything & up to 75% off Luxury Dresses
- Judge dismisses an assault lawsuit against Knicks owner James Dolan and Harvey Weinstein
- Zachary Quinto steps into some giant-sized doctor’s shoes in NBC’s ‘Brilliant Minds’
- Get a Designer Michael Kors $498 Handbag for $99 & More Luxury Deals Under $100
- Outgoing North Carolina governor grants 2 pardons, 6 commutations
- Ranking NFL's nine 2-0 teams by legitimacy: Who's actually a contender?
- Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese change the WNBA’s landscape, and its future
- Teen left with burns after portable phone charger combusts, catches bed on fire in Massachusetts
- Will Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul end in KO? Boxers handle question differently
- 'We need help, not hate:' Springfield, Ohio at center of national debate on immigration
Ranking
- Celtics' Jaylen Brown calls Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo a 'child' over fake handshake
- New Orleans Regional Transit Authority board stalled from doing business for second time this year
- Lionel Messi, Inter Miami back in action vs. Atlanta United: Will he play, time, how to watch
- Autopsy finds a California couple killed at a nudist ranch died from blows to their heads
- Jake Paul's only loss led him to retool the team preparing him to face Mike Tyson
- District attorney appoints special prosecutor to handle Karen Read’s second trial
- A news site that covers Haitian-Americans is facing harassment over its post-debate coverage of Ohio
- What NFL games are today: Schedule, time, how to watch Thursday action
Recommendation
-
Deion Sanders says he would prevent Shedeur Sanders from going to wrong team in NFL draft
-
Travis Kelce’s Jaw-Droppingly Luxe Birthday Gift to Patrick Mahomes Revealed
-
Start 'Em, Sit 'Em quarterbacks: Week 3 fantasy football
-
USWNT loses to North Korea in semifinals of U-20 Women's World Cup
-
Paraguay vs. Argentina live updates: Watch Messi play World Cup qualifying match tonight
-
Your Ultimate Acne Guide: Treat Pimples, Blackheads, Bad Breakouts, and More
-
Woman suffers leg burns after hiking off trail near Yellowstone Park’s Old Faithful
-
This $9 Primer & Mascara Have People Asking If I’m Wearing Fake Lashes