Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

History of the Parade Reflections

Origins

Recurring Themes

Defining Moments

Reflections

National Climate

People

The Parade: A Reflection of Current Events From year to year, the various features of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade are heavily influenced by the social and political climate of the country and are shaped after the current events taking place in the nation. Were a knowledgeable observer to witness a bygone Macy’s parade, through its various elements he or she would ascertain volumes about the cultural context thereof. In the 1930s civilian Zeppelin dirigibles reached their zenith. During the beginning of the 20th century, these giant rigid airships were used for commercial passenger transport and for military purposes. Their non-rigid successors which can still be seen today are commonly called “blimps.” [1] In Macy’s 1930 parade, Santa rode to Herald Square on a model Zeppelin dirigible. The USS Los Angeles flying over southern Manhattan

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