Washington Students Read Book & Embrace Parade

Washington Primary School third graders recently read the book “Balloons Over Broadway” by Melissa Sweet to learn about the history of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

“All students chose a character or animal they wanted to construct a balloon on,” Washington Principal Dr. Michelle J. Richards said. “First, they planned what their balloon would look like and brainstormed what materials were needed. Next, they researched their character/animal and wrote a short blurb about them.”

The youngsters then got busy constructing their balloons in classrooms. “They all turned out amazing and just like every year, we all have a blast making the balloons and parading down the hallway for the lower grades to see,” Dr. Richards said.

This year marked the 99th edition of the parade known around the country and throughout the world.

“As the United States prospered during the Roaring Twenties, so did New York City’s iconic department store—Macy’s. After going public in 1922, R. H. Macy & Co. started to acquire competitors and open regional locations,” according to the website, History.com. “Macy’s flagship store in Manhattan’s Herald Square did such a brisk business that it expanded in 1924 to cover an entire city block stretching from Broadway to Seventh Avenue along 34th Street. To showcase the opening of the ‘World’s Largest Store’ and its one million square feet of retail space at the start of the busy holiday shopping season, Macy’s decided to throw New York a parade on Thanksgiving morning. In spite of its timing, the parade was not actually about Thanksgiving at all but the next major holiday on the calendar—Christmas. Macy’s hoped its ‘Christmas Parade’ would whet the appetites of consumers for a holiday shopping feast.”