7 notable Thanksgiving traditions: Pardoning a turkey, church services and ‘Friendsgiving’

5. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

For many Americans, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a must-watch event on the holiday, with millions tuning in to see floats and musical numbers in New York City.

The tradition was started in 1924 by the flagship Macy’s store and was then known as the “Christmas Parade,” as it was meant to help celebrate the start of the holiday shopping season.

“The early-morning start time of ‘Macy’s Christmas Parade’ overlapped with many church services, but it gave spectators plenty of time to make it to the afternoon’s big football game between Syracuse and Columbia universities at the Polo Grounds,” explained history.com.

“By noontime, the parade finally arrived at its end in front of Macy’s Herald Square store where 10,000 people cheered Santa as he descended from his sleigh.”

While the 1924 parade only received scant attention from the New York Herald, the event was considered a great success and quickly became a regular tradition for the city.