RuthieBarrett

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has marked the beginning of the holiday season for 97 years.

The parade started in 1924  and featured live animals from the zoo instead of the iconic balloons. The route was six miles from Harlem to Herald Square.

Nowadays, the Macy’s parade is 2.5 miles long and showcases Broadway numbers, elaborate floats and life-size balloons. 

Not only does this event provide a spectacle to look at, it also produces feelings of joy and nostalgia. 

Sophomore Clare Engel has many good memories tied to the parade. Watching the parade “is a special tradition with my parents, grandparents and siblings that gets me in the holiday spirit,” Engel said. She also mentioned that “watching the parade is also a great way to take a break from all of the meal prep!”

A more unexpected gift that the parade is able to provide is a feeling of gratitude. “I feel very grateful for my family that I can share this tradition with them,” Engel said.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is able to bring thousands of people together whether to watch it in person or on the television.

The parade features various exciting entries and appearances from the spectacular floats to the beloved life size balloons and everything in between, whether it’s the marching bands or the Rockettes. 

Freshman Eva Coffey said she was most excited for the new balloons.

According to CBS News, Macy’s introduced seven new balloons this year. These included Beagle Scout Snoopy, Blue Cat and Chugs from “Cool Cats,” Po from “Kung Fu Panda,” LEO, Monkey D. Luffy, Uncle Dan and a new Pillsbury Doughboy. Floats and balloons change each year, but one thing always stays the same: Santa. 

Freshman Stella Yarpe said she was most excited for the float with Santa on it “because I am very excited for the Christmas season,” she said. The float carrying Santa is always the last in the parade, ushering in Christmas and signaling the official beginning of the holidays.

However, the Macy’s Parade is not always a lighthearted event, and some groups find the parade a good stage to bring light to important issues.

This year was no different. A group of pro-Palestinian protesters glued themselves to the street, resulting in a temporary halt in the parade. 

Their message was seen by millions of people and the parade carried on.

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a tradition beloved by many and is a great way to start the holiday season. By bringing family together in the spirit of nostalgia and gratitude, the parade is a tradition that will continue to bring joy to all.