So many of us are having a very different Thanksgiving on Thursday–not traveling, only spending time with our own little “bubble,” even our long-standing high school football rivalrys won’t happen.😳 Face it–as Alexander says, it’s been a “Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad” year. It’s nice to know that one thing will carry one, although with some significant changes, and that’s the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Macy’s–originally the R.H. Macy’s Store–was founded by Rowland Hussey Macy. Born in 1822, he went to sea on a waling ship at 15, and while there got a star-shaped tattoo, which remains the company’s logo to this day. Eventually he arrived in New York, set up shop on 6th Avenue, and R.H. Macy was an instant success, partly because it was often ahead of its time. For instance, it was the first store to sell towels in colors. Pretty standard today, but in 1855 it was a new idea.

Mr. Macy died in 1877, and the family owned and operated the business until 1895 when Isidore and Nathan Straus purchased it, keeping the name and the star logo. In 1902 they moved the business to Herald Square at 34th Street and Broadway, where it remains the flagship store. In 1924, the staff put together a parade which included animals from the Central Park Zoo, circus performers, marching bands and member of the store in brilliant costumes. Santa arrived at the end of the parade and sat on a throne on the balcony of the store. The parade started at 145th street, and ended at 34th. 250,000 people attended that year. It was a great success, and in early 1925 they decided to move it to Thanksgiving Day, the start of the holiday shopping season.

In 1927 Macy’s added floats to the parade. They also decided that it would be better to use balloons rather than animals in the parade. Mickey Mouse was the first, and favorite large balloon, though Felix the Cat was a close second. During the 1930s, when they got to the end of the parade, those in charge would simply let go of the balloons and watch them fly away. After the war, they felt that it would be better to deflate the balloon and keep them for the next year. By 1932, people in the area who couldn’t attend the parade were able to listen to it on the radio. The last parade before the war was in November 1941. Between 1942 and 1944, rubber and helium were needed for the war effort.

The parade returned in 1945 and continues to this day. Several things turned the Macy’s Day parade into a national event. The first was the movie Miracle on 34th Street in 1947 with Natalie Woods, Maureen O’Hara and John Payne that included scenes from the 1946 parade. And 1948 was a banner year–the first time the parade was on TV. (Black and white until 1960 when it was in color) This Thanksgiving, the parade will start just a few block from Herald Square. It will still be all three hours–9am to 12 noon–but you’ll only be able to see it on TV or on-line. No one will be on the parade route. But there will still be the balloon, the floats, a number of stars, dancers, and of course, Santa. Everyone involved will be taking all possible precautions. When things get back to normal–and I personally do believe it will–you’ll be able to tell your grandchildren what the parade looked like in 2020.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!