November 27: First Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (1924)
Prayer Idea
Pray for the people who work on and perform at the Macy’s parade.
History Note
Americans have observed days of thanksgiving throughout U.S. history, starting in colonial times. In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November to be a national Thanksgiving Day.
In 1924 Macy’s department store employees marched in the first Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City. This parade featured costumed entertainers, marching bands, and live animals from the Central Park Zoo.
Macy’s decided to make the parade an annual event. In 1927 they introduced the first giant helium-filled balloon. In the 1930s, people started listening to the parade on radio and in 1945 it was shown for the first time on television. The parade has continued every year except 1942-1944, when Macy’s donated the rubber from its balloons to help American forces in World War II.
Today about 8,000 people participate in the parade as performers or balloon handlers or in other roles behind the scenes. Millions of people line the streets of New York to watch the parade live and tens of millions more watch it on television or online.
Even though it was hosted on Thanksgiving day in 1924, the first Macy’s parade was called the Christmas Parade. Image courtesy Macy’s.
Learn More
Watch a brief history of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.
Find more resources at Homeschool History.
