Macy's Isn't The Longest Running Parade!

Macy's Thanksgiving day parade is perhaps the most well known parade due to it's longevity and being broadcast but it is neither the only parade nor the oldest parade.  The oldest parade is the 6ABC Dunkin' Donuts parade in Philadelphia.

This parade began back in 1920 as the Gimbels Thanksgiving day parade.  The very first parade began as an advertising ploy in which one of the owner's of the store had over 50 employees dress up in costumes, walked or rode down Market Street to garner attention for the store's Toyland. Santa Claus rode in the last car and when he arrived at Gimbel's, he climbed up a fire ladder to the 8th floor of the building which housed the toy section.

Apparently, the first few parades were low key until Macy's and one other grabbed the headlines in 1924.  This caused Gimbles to beef up the parade, advertise it as having 1500 people, 500 clowns, 12 bands, 60 horses, 21 ponies, 20 floats, and Santa Claus with 12 live reindeer.  The parade continued to grow and it didn't stop for World War II but Gimbels fell on hard time and sold the stores off in 1986. The parade has undergone numerous name changes depending on who sponsored it but now it is sponsored by 6ABC (the local television station) and Dunk'in Donuts.  The local television station has been broadcasting the parade nationally since 1966

There is another long running Thanksgiving day parade many of us have never heard of but it's been around since 1924, the same year as Macy's.  This one, America's Thanksgiving Day parade, began in Detroit, Michigan.  It was sponsored by J.L. Hudson's, a well known department store in downtown and the first parade traveled down Woodward Avenue with several horses pulling a float with Mother Goose, seven marching bands, and four large paper mâché heads.  Over the years, the parade has grown so it now covers a two mile parade route and includes local business and community leaders who dress as clowns who distribute candy to children along the parade route.

They began televising the parade locally in 1948, eventually broadcasting nationally. Unfortunately, the J.L. Hudson company had to give up sponsorship of the parade in 1976, four years before it went out of business but various corporations have stepped in to help continue supporting this event including the Parade company who helps organize it.

The longest running seasonal parade happens the day after Thanksgiving in Peoria Illinois.  Although there is some question as to when it actually started, it is agreed that it started before 1900.  There is a reference to a parade of boats coming down the river to support a new bridge in 1887 but details are a bit sketchy.  There are other references to a store starting the parade in 1889 but again the store's advertising is not sure of the first year but there is proof a a parade with Santa Claus by 1895.

In 1895, at least three department stores fought for the children's attention by each having their own parade complete with Santa.  One claimed all the previous Santa's were his sons and grandsons and the real one would appear on December 10th at their store while another claimed that Santa had spent three weeks in their store.  Then the third group, had a handwritten telegram from the "real" Santa urging people to visit him.  A fourth store had Santa arrive on the "Toytown Express" at the rail station  where he took a horse drawn carriage escorted by police and a marching band to their store. Over the years, it has expanded but is still considered the longest running parade.

So now you know a bit more about some of the longest running parades that happen over Thanksgiving weekend.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

11 Facts About Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

 For most of us, Thanksgiving day signals the beginning of the holiday season.  If you ask people about Thanksgiving day parades, most people will  name "Macy"'s Thanksgiving day parade.  It's the one we watch on Television just to see which balloon characters they'll have this year.  Although, its is not the first parade, it seems to be one of the better known ones.

This parade has a long and interesting history and set many firsts over time, so I'll share some facts about Macy's Thanksgiving day parade.



1.  Macy's day parade originally was a Christmas themed parade held on Christmas Day, not a Thanksgiving day Parade.  The store began in a location about 20 blocks south of where it is now at 20th Avenue and 14th street.  In 1902, the store moved to Broadway and 34th street and in the process, it continued expanding until it covered one city block with over one million square feet of retail space.

In 1924, the employee's of Macy's organized a Christmas parade beginning up at 145th street filled with bands, floats such as Little Miss Muffet, Red Riding Hood, animals such as elephants, from the zoo and concluding with Santa Clause and the unveiling of the store's Christmas Windows.  While most of the participants in the parade were actually store employees, the police had their hands busy with over 250,000 onlookers.  It wasn't until 1927, the store renamed it the Thanksgiving day parade when it was moved to Thanksgiving day.

2.  In 1926, The Allied Patriotic Societies protested holding the parade on Thanksgiving day because it interfered with with the sanctity of the day by interfering with the traditional Thanksgiving day worship.  The Allied Patriotic Societies tried to have the parade permit pulled but were unsuccessful because Macy's argued the parade only featured the word Macy's once so the store was not really advertising themselves.  In addition, by having the parade in the morning, it did not interfere with Thanksgiving day services and it was the only time that children were available to enjoy the parade.  The last thing was that traffic was light on Thanksgiving morning, making it easier to have the parade.

3.  This was not the first parade in New York City.  It was preceded by the Thanksgiving Ragamuffin Parade where children were encouraged to dress up as beggars and beg for pennies, candy and apples from adults but Macy's eventually replaced the other parade due to popularity and it disappeared.

4.   Balloons joined the parade in 1927 with a 60 foot dinosaur and a 25 foot dachshand and Felix the Cat  inspired by a balloon float covered in balloons the previous year.  In addition to dealing with high winds and weird weather, they also had to deal with the elevated train the ran down Sixth Avenue until 1938.  Mickey Mouse joined the parade in 1934, the same year, they had a balloon of Eddie Cantor.

5. At the end of the 1927 parade, the balloon figures were released into the air and they popped but this changed the following year.  The five huge balloon figures were released into the atmosphere where they were expected to stay aloft up to 10 days.  Macy's arranged for a $100 reward for the return of those balloons.  The first one landed on the roof of a Long Island home where so many people tried to recover it, they broke the balloon into pieces.  Within a few days, all but one had been recovered but the last one was seen floating over the ocean, never to be seen again.  Macy's continued these balloon races until 1932 due to pilots beginning to try to snag the balloons in the air and the dangerous situation it presented.

6.  In 1932, they began broadcasting detailed descriptions of the parade over the radio so you had to use your mind to picture all the entries, the balloons, everything.  However, they began broadcasting the parade over television in New York City in 1946 but NBC broadcast it nationally one year later so you could see it on television rather than listen to the description.

7.  Since Manhattan is so small and the balloons are so large, people can go check out the various balloons being inflated the night before.  If you head off to the area by 77th Street and Central Park West, over near the American Museum of Natural History, you can watch the balloon characters come to life due to being inflated and painted.  If you are curious, the balloons are constructed in Macy's parade studio over in New Jersey.

8.  For so many years, the parade route went down Broadway but in 2009, the route changed to Seventh Avenue because the city constructed pedestrian plazas along Broadway.  The route changed again to Sixth Avenue in 2011 which didn't please some people.  This year, 2019, the route begins at 77th street and Central Park West before turning onto 59th street and continue past the park to Sixth Avenue.  It continues down Sixth to 34th street, where it will turn right, ending at the main Macy's store.

9.  Unfortunately, weather can make the parade quite interesting.  In 1958, the rain filled the Popeye Balloon's hat with so much water, it spilled over and drenched the onlookers.  It happened again in 1962 with the Donald Duck Hat.  In 1997, the wind blew at 40 mph making the balloons difficult to control.  One balloon ran into a lamppost and injured four people, one of whom remained in a coma for a month, while the Pink Panther balloon created a problem  for one of the handlers.

10.  The original floats were pulled by horses until 1939 when they switched to automobiles and trucks to move floats.

11.  The parade halted for two years during World War II due to both  helium and rubber being in short supply.  As a patriotic gesture, Macy's cancelled the parade from 1942 to 1944, deflated all their rubber balloons and donated them to the United States government.  The parade returned in 1945 and Macy's used a new route in 1946.

This was not the only time the parade had problems like this.  There was another helium shortage in 1958 but Macy's collaborated with both Goodyear and Traynor and Hanson to fill the balloons with air and moved them by dangling each balloon from a mobile construction derricks.  

Done!

Always best, fresh and warm from the oven!

One Thing Off The List.

Pie?  Check!

Making Thanksgiving Dinner Easier.

 I tend to notice that people love making everything on Thanksgiving day.  I remember my mother getting up at the crack of dawn to put the turkey in a hot oven.  Then as the day progressed, she'd make each item until it was time to serve.  As I got older, I began helping but I'm now into the easy way to prepare Thanksgiving dinner.

There are some things you can do to make your Thanksgiving day so much nicer because you are not spending all day cooking.

First, you can make mashed potatoes ahead out of real potatoes by cooking the potatoes ahead of time, adding lots of butter, milk, salt, and pepper until they are rich and wonderful.  At this point you can freeze them for a couple of weeks,  then thaw just before you want to eat them and heat on the stove,  or refrigerate for. a couple of days before reheating till golden brown in the oven. On the other hand, if you don't mind the instant variety, you can always use those to quickly whip up a batch but honestly, I prefer making mine from scratch.

As far as sweet potatoes, cook them a head of time so they are ready to have the marshmallows, butter, brown sugar added and baked the morning of Thanksgiving.  You can also prepare the green bean casserole ahead of time but don't put the crunchy topping until the last minute as heat it up in the microwave.

Next you can prepare home made gravy from scratch so you get the flavor you want.  The great thing, is you can also freeze this for a couple of weeks before thawing it, heating it slowly over low heat, stirring it so it doesn't separate.  If you aren't that motivated, you can make it from a mix, or buy a can, heat it and open it.

I opt out of making cranberry sauce by simply buying the canned variety, usually with cranberries, so I only have to open a can.  I never learned to make it from scratch and I've never been particularly interested in learning.  On the other hand, you can make the stuffing a day or two ahead of time.  I usually make it so it is mostly cooked but finish it off in the oven so it is hot and steamy.  Of course, there are lots of versions you can buy that you add water and cook on the stove in a few minutes.

I always make my pies one to two days in advance because I love mine from scratch because the flavor is great.  Even if you buy the pies in frozen form, you can bake them a head of time so they are cooled and ready to go. Furthermore, rolls can be purchased from the store and heated up so they are ready just as the meal is served.

On the other hand, if you want to make it even easier, you take responsibility for cooking the turkey and use the drippings for the gravy but assign visiting family members something specific to bring, such as your brother might bring the mashed potatoes and rolls, your sister is responsible for the cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes,  Aunt Matilda can bring the pies, etc.

The last choice is to preorder a full meal from any one of a number of places that offer to do it all so all you do is serve it.  It is all up to you and how much work you want to expend.  As you can tell, I love to make most things from scratch but the last few years, several of us have gotten together for a meal and we each bring something.  This year, I'll probably spend a quiet day at home with just a few things I made from scratch.

Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

9 Places To Travel For Thanksgiving.

Not everyone wants to stay home or visit relatives at Thanksgiving.  Some families would prefer to head off somewhere for a nice holiday rather than worry about trying to fix everything by mid afternoon or the evening.  They'd rather have someone else do it.

There are some great places to spend the holiday where it's warm or they offer something special.

1.  Miami Florida has nice warm weather where one can enjoy the Art Deco architecture, boutiques, and spectacular shopping on Black Friday.  If you are a civic minded citizen, you could participate in the White Party, a fund raiser for a community organization that helps people with AIDS.  In addition, there is lots of great food in Little Havana, or any one of a number of food experiences.

2.  Las Vegas, Nevada also offers great weather to people who want to spend the weekend at shows or casinos because none of the casinos close.  If you want to something daring, hit the Ice Rink at the Boulevard Pool so you can skate, drink hot chocolate, or huddle around a fire.  Most places offer a traditional Thanksgiving meal and rather than go back to your room for a nap, enjoy a spa at one of the hotels. If you love to shop, check out one of the two outlet malls located in Las Vegas.


3 Washington, D.C. is a great place to spend Thanksgiving.  It's within a short driving distance to Mount Vernon where you can get a candle lit guided tour of Jefferson's home while learning more about camels and how they became associated with this holiday.  In addition, check out the Smithsonian Museum on Thanksgiving day when you can visit it for free and with few visitors.  Then on Black Friday, go downtown to visit a market where one can purchase artisan gifts for Christmas.

4.  Chicago, Illinois where the city offers a wonderful parade every Thanksgiving morning.  One can enjoy the parade from either the street or from hotel windows.  After the parade, head off to enjoy a meal at one of several places before enjoying an evening watching the lights at Millennium Park.  Check out the outdoor Christmas Market with stalls and lights  for gifts to give later on before heading home after a great weekend.

5. Kiawah Island, South Carolina, is one of the barrier islands off of Charleston.  This island is small but offers lots of luxurious experiences.  There are different options for a Thanksgiving meal along with a Turkey Trot and a yoga session scheduled right after the trot.  If you enjoy hockey, check out the pumpkin hockey match or if that isn't what you like, perhaps the tree lighting ceremony is more your style.  To make this really special, check out the oyster roast which only happens on major holidays.

6. Mountain View, Arkansas is located about two hours outside of Little Rock and offers a spectacular caroling in the Blanchard Caverns.  Take the tour and listen to carolers who provide Christmas music in the background.  Take a short drive to visit the Ozark Folk Center State Park where one can enjoy a Thanksgiving meal and take time to check out the craft village offering artisan crafts.  Don't forget to visit downtown to enjoy various shops and impromptu music concerts.

7.  Taos, New Mexico offers a fantastic southwestern style Thanksgiving with red chilis followed by a visit to an arts and crafts fair that supports a community organization focused on stopping violence and then working off the meal by skiing on the slopes.  Taos isn't that far north of Santa Fe or Albuquerque.

8.  New York, New York offers the annual Macy's Thanksgiving day parade complete with huge balloons.  One can watch the balloons being filled the night before over near the American Museum of Natural History.  In addition, one can enjoy the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, see the Radio City Rockettes, and enjoy Central Park.  Then on Friday, enjoy all the deals offered by stores on Black Friday after checking out Macy's the night before at 5 PM when they open with extra early deals.

9. New Orleans, Louisiana offers Thanksgiving cajun style.  In addition, it offers football lovers the traditional Bayou classic and a parade by the same name makes its way through the French Quarter the day after Thanksgiving.  If you prefer music, enjoy the Battle of the Bands but no matter what you attend, check out all the great food down there.  One of the more unique Thanksgiving items is the deep fried turkey.

So you can enjoy Thanksgiving at home or off in one of these places.  Have a great day and let me know what you think.

Thanksgiving Travel Tips.

 We are just over a week away from Thanksgiving.  This is a time when people try to get home to celebrate the time with family or friends.  I have someone coming out and I'm hoping they make it on the day they are scheduled because the weather has been such that planes are being cancelled quite frequently.

It is estimated that over 55 million people will travel at least 50 miles to spend time with family.  Although most people will drive to their destination, most people who fly will try to leave Wednesday afternoon making it the heaviest day of travel.

The best way to get the cheapest ticket for flying is to plan to fly the Monday immediately before Thanksgiving or on Thanksgiving day itself, otherwise you'll have to pay more.  Furthermore, plan on paying higher car rental  and hotel rooms than usual for off season price.  This is important to know when budgeting for the holiday.  In addition when planning to return home, try to hold off for Monday because more people travel home on Saturday and Sunday.

Since most people drive to their holiday location, knowing that traffic congestion can increase up to four times the normal amount in major towns and cities because people are all heading out at about the same time helps in planning.  This increase in congestion begins on the Monday prior to Thanksgiving itself and doesn't ease up until Thanksgiving itself.  

This increase in travel can also cause an increase in the time it takes to get to the airport.  Furthermore, due to the number of people traveling by air, the wait in security line also increases so it is important to plan ahead, especially at major airports.  Since it is a major time to travel, airlines usually increase the number of seats available but if you wait too long to purchase your ticket, you might end up paying more than you might by buying it in September or October.

It is recommended that if you can manage to drive or fly to your destination by leaving early on Thanksgiving day, you will face less traffic or spend less time in security lines because most people will have already arrived at their destination.  If you can't wait till Monday to travel, plan to leave bright and early in the morning, no later than 6 AM to beat the rush.  If you are not a morning person, try leaving after 8 PM to avoid the evening rushes.

If you are going anywhere for Thanksgiving, plan ahead to travel on the lightest days, take care, and enjoy. Wednesday, I'll share a few places you might want to head for instead of visiting relatives over Thanksgiving.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.