November 26, 2024 • 8 mins
Thanksgiving is the best. Whether you celebrate with family, friends, or even on your own, what makes it the best is the focus on gratitude. But what about all those traditions? When we celebrate, how we celebrate, what we eat, and even the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! Where did all those traditions come from and how have they evolved?
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Ah, Thanksgiving my favorite holiday of all. You know why
because it's all about gratitude rather than what we get,
although we do get an amazing amount of food. Thanksgiving
is definitely packed with tradition. But here's the thing, a
lot of those traditions, like when it takes place, what
we eat and the all important Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade,
(00:21):
sort of spontaneously happened and then evolved from there. I'm
Patty Steele unpacking Thanksgiving. Next on the backstory, We're back
with the backstory. Last year, we did a deep dive
into our Thanksgiving traditions and it was a really popular episode,
so I thought we would share it again, but freshen
(00:43):
it up a bit. Plus on the follow up episode,
which is coming out in just a few days, just
in time for Native American Heritage Day on Friday, the
twenty ninth of November. A listener suggested we look at
Thanksgiving from that perspective, so please check that out as well.
Thanksgiving is all about food, family and festivity, but most
(01:05):
of all, it's about gratitude. But how did the way
we celebrate start? Well, we know the story of the
first Thanksgiving in sixteen twenty one, but family feasts with turkey, overeating,
parades all came a whole lot later. The whole idea
of a feast this time of year actually originated with
immigrants who were used to harvest festivals in laid autumn
(01:28):
in their mother countries. As for what we eat, well,
it turns out the first Thanksgiving in our parts may
or may not have involved turkey. Historians say that the
first feast was likely roasted deer, ducks and geese, but
not so much turkey. There were a lot of wild
turkeys across the Northeast in those early days, but the
(01:49):
feast was more about whatever was close at hand. Eventually,
on farms, turkeys were only raised for meat, unlike cattle,
which we got our milk from, or even chickens which
provided eggs, so they were always handy for the dinner table.
But this is pretty funny. We think the role of
influencer is brand new. We I'll think again. Ultimately, one
(02:12):
of the drivers for roasted turkey was actually the popularity
of a British story from Charles Dickens, a Christmas carol
where a giant turkey is celebrated as the ultimate Christmas feast.
The story published in eighteen forty three was so incredibly
popular it made Turkey the star of the show for
most feasts by the mid eighteen fifties. Now, why do
(02:35):
we celebrate Thanksgiving when we celebrate it? Well, through the
seventeen hundreds and into the eighteen hundreds, Day of Thanksgiving,
as it called it was set aside it various different times,
most likely in October for the harvest. But in eighteen
sixty three Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday and
(02:55):
set it for the last Thursday in November, coinciding with
the dates that the Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth two hundred
and forty three years earlier. But it wasn't until nineteen
thirty nine that Thanksgiving was permanently set as the fourth
Thursday in November, so as to stretch the holiday shopping
season in years where it may have come late in
(03:17):
the month. In fact, this year, Thanksgiving is on November
twenty eighth, literally the latest date it could possibly be
and still be just the fourth Thursday of November. And
what about the iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Well, if
you're like me, maybe you have vivid memories of going
to the parade, or the balloon inflation the night before
(03:38):
that was always really fun. Or sitting in front of
the TV Thanksgiving morning watching the parade while your mom
and dad or various relatives began the process of getting
the turkey in the oven. I've done the same thing
with my kids. For me, it wouldn't feel like Thanksgiving
without a peek at the parade. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day
Parade actually began exactly one hundred years ago. This year
(04:02):
it's nineteen twenty four, the roaring twenties. In the heart
of New York City. Macy's department store wanted to celebrate
its success and also thank customers for their shopping loyalty.
Inspired by festive European traditions, Macy's employees, lots of recent
immigrants among them, suggested a parade. Imagine the scene, brilliant costumes,
(04:26):
floats made mostly with flowers, and marching bands. In those days,
there were no balloons, so they borrowed animals for the
parade from the Central Park Zoo. Yeah, there were elephants, camels,
and bears marching down New York City streets with two
hundred and fifty thousand people on the sidelines. The parade
route was six miles long. It was a huge way
(04:48):
to kick off the holiday season and it grew every year,
but nineteen twenty seven, just three years later, was a
pivotal year. That was when they introduced the first giant
balloon to replace the hard to manage animals, especially the bears.
Felix the Cat was the first balloon, although it wasn't
helium filled, handlers held it up by poles and carried
(05:11):
it through the city streets. By the nineteen thirties, helium
allowed the balloons to soar, and each year more balloons
representing the pop culture of the day appear. Now the
thing about the parade is it's pretty much always been there,
in good times and bad. The Depression years were difficult,
but Macy's continued with it since it provided a much
(05:32):
needed escape and a little bit of happiness for folks
in tough times. World War II paused the parade from
nineteen forty two to nineteen forty four, when the rubber
and helium for the balloons was donated to the war effort.
But on its return in nineteen forty five, it was
on TV for the very first time, and there wasn't
(05:52):
much TV. Then that was the moment. Families across the country,
if they had access to a TV, were able to
experience the magic. It's such an important part of our traditions.
Even the pandemic didn't totally shut it down. In what
was kind of a stealth operation to keep crowds from gathering,
Macy's brought various floats and balloons to different areas of
(06:15):
New York City and filmed segments ahead of time, stitching
it together for a broadcast that calmed people's nerves. That
had to be stealth about it, though, because they didn't
want to draw crowds. So this parade is not just
about the balloons and the floats. It's about the generations
of families who have lined the streets of Manhattan, the
(06:35):
performers and artists on its floats and stages, and the
countless folks behind the scenes who've brought this glittering show
to life year after year, not to mention those of
you and us who sit in front of the TV
to watch it every Thanksgiving morning. As we watch the
balloons navigate the city's canyons, we have to remember the
(06:56):
journey from a simple heartfelt gesture by a group of
men Macy's employees to a beloved national phenomenon. The Macy's
Thanksgiving Day Parade is a testament to the power of
imagination and the enduring appeal of shared joy, wonder and tradition.
The parade has become a cultural touchstone, linking generations by
(07:18):
reflecting our heritage and also the times in which we live.
From the Roaring twenties to the digital age, the parade
has been a constant, evolving with us while maintaining its
wonder and excitement and letting us share some innocence. So,
however you celebrate, whoever you're celebrating with, whatever you're feasting on,
(07:40):
remember that Thanksgiving is simply a day to think about
what you're grateful for. And please don't forget to check
out the next episode, which is a look at what
Thanksgiving means to Native Americans. Hope you're enjoying the backstory
(08:03):
with Patty Steele. Follow or subscribe for free to get
new episodes delivered automatically, and feel free to DM me
if you have a story you'd like me to cover.
On Facebook, It's Patty Steele and on Instagram Real Patty Steele.
I'm Patty Steele. The Backstories a production of iHeartMedia, Premiere Networks,
(08:24):
the Elvis Durand Group, and Steel Trap Productions. Our producer
is Doug Fraser. Our writer Jake Kushner. We have new
episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Feel free to reach out
to me with comments and even story suggestions on Instagram
at Real Patty Steele and on Facebook at Patty Steele.
Thanks for listening to the Backstory with Patty Steele. The
(08:45):
pieces of history you didn't know you needed to know.
Ah, Thanksgiving my favorite holiday of all. You know why
because it's all about gratitude rather than what we get,
although we do get an amazing amount of food. Thanksgiving
is definitely packed with tradition. But here's the thing, a
lot of those traditions, like when it takes place, what
we eat and the all important Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade,
(00:21):
sort of spontaneously happened and then evolved from there. I'm
Patty Steele unpacking Thanksgiving. Next on the backstory, We're back
with the backstory. Last year, we did a deep dive
into our Thanksgiving traditions and it was a really popular episode,
so I thought we would share it again, but freshen
(00:43):
it up a bit. Plus on the follow up episode,
which is coming out in just a few days, just
in time for Native American Heritage Day on Friday, the
twenty ninth of November. A listener suggested we look at
Thanksgiving from that perspective, so please check that out as well.
Thanksgiving is all about food, family and festivity, but most
(01:05):
of all, it's about gratitude. But how did the way
we celebrate start? Well, we know the story of the
first Thanksgiving in sixteen twenty one, but family feasts with turkey, overeating,
parades all came a whole lot later. The whole idea
of a feast this time of year actually originated with
immigrants who were used to harvest festivals in laid autumn
(01:28):
in their mother countries. As for what we eat, well,
it turns out the first Thanksgiving in our parts may
or may not have involved turkey. Historians say that the
first feast was likely roasted deer, ducks and geese, but
not so much turkey. There were a lot of wild
turkeys across the Northeast in those early days, but the
(01:49):
feast was more about whatever was close at hand. Eventually,
on farms, turkeys were only raised for meat, unlike cattle,
which we got our milk from, or even chickens which
provided eggs, so they were always handy for the dinner table.
But this is pretty funny. We think the role of
influencer is brand new. We I'll think again. Ultimately, one
(02:12):
of the drivers for roasted turkey was actually the popularity
of a British story from Charles Dickens, a Christmas carol
where a giant turkey is celebrated as the ultimate Christmas feast.
The story published in eighteen forty three was so incredibly
popular it made Turkey the star of the show for
most feasts by the mid eighteen fifties. Now, why do
(02:35):
we celebrate Thanksgiving when we celebrate it? Well, through the
seventeen hundreds and into the eighteen hundreds, Day of Thanksgiving,
as it called it was set aside it various different times,
most likely in October for the harvest. But in eighteen
sixty three Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday and
(02:55):
set it for the last Thursday in November, coinciding with
the dates that the Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth two hundred
and forty three years earlier. But it wasn't until nineteen
thirty nine that Thanksgiving was permanently set as the fourth
Thursday in November, so as to stretch the holiday shopping
season in years where it may have come late in
(03:17):
the month. In fact, this year, Thanksgiving is on November
twenty eighth, literally the latest date it could possibly be
and still be just the fourth Thursday of November. And
what about the iconic Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Well, if
you're like me, maybe you have vivid memories of going
to the parade, or the balloon inflation the night before
(03:38):
that was always really fun. Or sitting in front of
the TV Thanksgiving morning watching the parade while your mom
and dad or various relatives began the process of getting
the turkey in the oven. I've done the same thing
with my kids. For me, it wouldn't feel like Thanksgiving
without a peek at the parade. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day
Parade actually began exactly one hundred years ago. This year
(04:02):
it's nineteen twenty four, the roaring twenties. In the heart
of New York City. Macy's department store wanted to celebrate
its success and also thank customers for their shopping loyalty.
Inspired by festive European traditions, Macy's employees, lots of recent
immigrants among them, suggested a parade. Imagine the scene, brilliant costumes,
(04:26):
floats made mostly with flowers, and marching bands. In those days,
there were no balloons, so they borrowed animals for the
parade from the Central Park Zoo. Yeah, there were elephants, camels,
and bears marching down New York City streets with two
hundred and fifty thousand people on the sidelines. The parade
route was six miles long. It was a huge way
(04:48):
to kick off the holiday season and it grew every year,
but nineteen twenty seven, just three years later, was a
pivotal year. That was when they introduced the first giant
balloon to replace the hard to manage animals, especially the bears.
Felix the Cat was the first balloon, although it wasn't
helium filled, handlers held it up by poles and carried
(05:11):
it through the city streets. By the nineteen thirties, helium
allowed the balloons to soar, and each year more balloons
representing the pop culture of the day appear. Now the
thing about the parade is it's pretty much always been there,
in good times and bad. The Depression years were difficult,
but Macy's continued with it since it provided a much
(05:32):
needed escape and a little bit of happiness for folks
in tough times. World War II paused the parade from
nineteen forty two to nineteen forty four, when the rubber
and helium for the balloons was donated to the war effort.
But on its return in nineteen forty five, it was
on TV for the very first time, and there wasn't
(05:52):
much TV. Then that was the moment. Families across the country,
if they had access to a TV, were able to
experience the magic. It's such an important part of our traditions.
Even the pandemic didn't totally shut it down. In what
was kind of a stealth operation to keep crowds from gathering,
Macy's brought various floats and balloons to different areas of
(06:15):
New York City and filmed segments ahead of time, stitching
it together for a broadcast that calmed people's nerves. That
had to be stealth about it, though, because they didn't
want to draw crowds. So this parade is not just
about the balloons and the floats. It's about the generations
of families who have lined the streets of Manhattan, the
(06:35):
performers and artists on its floats and stages, and the
countless folks behind the scenes who've brought this glittering show
to life year after year, not to mention those of
you and us who sit in front of the TV
to watch it every Thanksgiving morning. As we watch the
balloons navigate the city's canyons, we have to remember the
(06:56):
journey from a simple heartfelt gesture by a group of
men Macy's employees to a beloved national phenomenon. The Macy's
Thanksgiving Day Parade is a testament to the power of
imagination and the enduring appeal of shared joy, wonder and tradition.
The parade has become a cultural touchstone, linking generations by
(07:18):
reflecting our heritage and also the times in which we live.
From the Roaring twenties to the digital age, the parade
has been a constant, evolving with us while maintaining its
wonder and excitement and letting us share some innocence. So,
however you celebrate, whoever you're celebrating with, whatever you're feasting on,
(07:40):
remember that Thanksgiving is simply a day to think about
what you're grateful for. And please don't forget to check
out the next episode, which is a look at what
Thanksgiving means to Native Americans. Hope you're enjoying the backstory
(08:03):
with Patty Steele. Follow or subscribe for free to get
new episodes delivered automatically, and feel free to DM me
if you have a story you'd like me to cover.
On Facebook, It's Patty Steele and on Instagram Real Patty Steele.
I'm Patty Steele. The Backstories a production of iHeartMedia, Premiere Networks,
(08:24):
the Elvis Durand Group, and Steel Trap Productions. Our producer
is Doug Fraser. Our writer Jake Kushner. We have new
episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Feel free to reach out
to me with comments and even story suggestions on Instagram
at Real Patty Steele and on Facebook at Patty Steele.
Thanks for listening to the Backstory with Patty Steele. The
(08:45):
pieces of history you didn't know you needed to know.
Host
Patty Steele
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