The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
For most North Americans, Thanksgiving is one of the most important holidays of the year. It is a time for family-get-togethers centered around a traditional turkey dinner. Like Christmas and New Years, almost everyone takes the day off from work and school; in fact most schools let students out after class on Tuesday or at midday on Wednesday so those who have to travel to other towns or cities may do so.
One of the important events of this holiday is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade held annually in New York City and televised nationally and internationally. I Love a Parade says a popular U. S. song and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is one more example of this typical American activity. As with most parades there are high school and university marching bands, floats, horses, and most notable of all, numerous balloons representing popular cartoon and comic figures from television, newspapers and movies. These figures are kept from floating away into the sky by means of ropes which are held by volunteers walking in the parade. The festive scene that the balloons create is appropriate for a holiday which is not only special in itself, but also a reminder that Christmas will soon be here. In fact, the traditional appearance of Santa Claus on the last float in the parade is generally considered to be the official opening of the Christmas season.
Vocabulary: The following words may be unfamiliar to you.
Word
|
Explanation
or Definition
|
family-get together:
|
a special event or dinner where
all family members go to celebrate
|
float: (n.)
cartoon: (n.)
comic (n.)
|
an exhibit mounted on a vehicle
an animated narration where the
characters and scenes are drawn or computerized
a
drawing or series of drawings that tell a joke in newspapers, magazine or online
|
Please click on this link and watch a short video about the new balloons and the training volunteers have to go through. Then answer the five questions.
New balloons to soar at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
- What type of gas is used to inflate the balloons? __________
- How many new balloons are there? _____
- How many volunteers are needed to control one balloon? _____
- What kind of training do the volunteers receive? Check your answers ___ classroom ___ video ___ online ___ live ___ seminars ___ guides ___ modules
- How does one woman say it makes her feel? _____________________
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