Thanksgiving

Years ago, on Thanksgiving Day NBC always broadcasted the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from New York. CBS on the other hand showed a parade from Philadelphia by Gimbels department store along with a parade from Honolulu and Toronto. 

As time went by the Gimbels department store went out of business and there were no more Philadelphia parades, at least not on TV. Since Honolulu is six hours behind East Coast time that was some kind of a canned event and that did not happen any longer. Since Canada celebrates its Thanksgiving in October on the same day US observes Columbus Day, that thing was not real anyway, so it was no great loss not seeing it. What remained for CBS is to show the Macy's parade.

The difference between the two presentations is that NBC is showing it from Herald Square, right front of Macy's while CBS is stationed somewhere further up along the route. The NBC's is more theatrical while CBS' is more realistic. Regardless, I still like to watch them. It culminates exactly at noon with Santa Claus coming in on top of a large float and then the official Christmas season begins.

In New York and primarily in Manhattan most street corners and front of supermarket Christmas tree vendors set up shop. These people drive down from Canada and New England with a truckload of natural Christmas trees and hope to sell them by Christmas Eve. And most are lucky enough. These people stay with the trees 24/7, sleep in their cars. Not an easy life but I guess it is worth it.

Lot of families set up their trees about this time but the way I see it the natural trees will surely dry out by Christmas. But I am not a Christmas tree expert. That is one of the very few things I am not an expert of.