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- The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade used to be called the Christmas Parade.
- It was cancelled from 1942 to 1944 because of World War II.
- It's been a hallmark of the holiday season since then, featuring celebrities, balloons, and marching bands from around the country.
- The parade floats and performers through the years reflect different periods in American culture.
The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade will march through New York City for the 91st time this November. Aside from a brief hiatus during World War II when helium and rubber were in short supply, it has been a hallmark of the holiday season since the first parade on Christmas in 1924.
Featuring celebrities, marching bands, clowns, and balloons shaped like cartoon and movie characters, the massive event has been televised since 1952. Grandparents and grandchildren alike share fond memories of watching the spectacle, and the floats and performers through the years reflect different periods in American culture.
Here's what the parade looked like in its early days and every year since 1980.