The Rose Parade. A New Years Tradition?

It's an annual tradition from my husband's side of the family. I never watched it til I got married. I will watch it off and on throughout - there are some very pretty floats, but for the most part, I find something to do or keep busy in the kitchen and just give it a few obligatory glances. I'm not really a parade loving person. My husband will usually call me in for the ones he wants me to see. He has the TV control and does not want to miss a nano-second of it so once one channel goes off to commercial he is switching to the next. Enough to drive me crazy.

When we lived in California I could sleep in and then just mosey along making breakfast in the kitchen for a very leisurely morning, and not have to see almost any of it. I got to the point where I was getting a bit smug about it. When we moved to the East Coast it took me a year to catch on to the fact that it starts 3 hours later out here. The first time I did that I happily - and smugly - emerged from the kitchen at 11:00 with our brunch food only to find it was just starting instead of ending. Yes, I will never live that one down. And I do now have to watch a bit of it here and there.

Well, righteousdude, I have written a book here - but you asked. :wavey:

 

Here's a list of floats:

http://www.tournamentofroses.com/TheRoseParade/TheParade/Participants/Floats.aspx

Not sure how it could be termed "Christian".

 

It's on Monday this year because New Year's falls on Sunday. So are most of the big bowl games.

 

And lest anyone think it has anything to do with church or Christianity, remember that it only has to do with the fact that the NFL owns Sunday.

 

Why are the Tournament celebrations sometimes held on January 2?

• The Tournament of Roses is a tradition full of traditions, one of which is our "Never on Sunday" policy. In 1893, officials decided to move the parade to Monday, January 2 to avoid frightening horses tethered outside local churches and thus interfering with worship services. As a result of this reverent gesture, speculation abounds as to the rare instances of rainfall on New Year's Day (only ten times in Rose Parade history), prompting some to ask the Tournament about its special pact with a "friend upstairs." Also as a result of this tradition, other collegiate bowl organizations have instituted similar procedures.

from http://www.tournamentofroses.com/TheRoseParade/TheParade/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.aspx

 

Thanks for that information. I have no doubt that at one point in time this was the case. If, between then and now, the NFL had not claimed Sunday, then I also have no doubt that the Rose Parade and the bowl games would have disregarded their earlier policy.

 

That is an "if" statement.

 

That is a "that" statement.

 

Voted better things to do.

I'm probably an oddball when it comes to things like this. Didn't watch the Thanksgiving parades, didn't stay up to watch the ball drop last night. And don't have any plans to watch this parade either, regardless of when it comes on.

This partly stems from the days when we could get 3 tv channels. Guess what was on all 3, every season, every year. Either watch the parade(s) or turn off the tv.

Partly stems from watching less and less tv these days anyway. When it's on and I have have the remote in my clutches, it stays on the news for the most part. Local news and Fox News. Once in a while, maybe something from the History channel so I can argue about the origins of the earth with the tv.

Not a sports fan, so that's automatically ruled out. Used to watch the Olympics when events were broadcast live without all the "stuff" associated with today's electronic broadcasting techniques.

Just think what this world could be like if all those fans were cheering for Jesus Christ instead of idols earning millions of dollars a year to "play".

Just think what this world would be like if all that time, energy, and money was offered to God instead.

Just think what this world could be like if parents put as much emphasis on Jesus Christ as they do sports activities with their children. Can't do xyz (anything church related) because I've got to take my son to football practice.

Just think how much better educated our children would be if all the dollars & emphasis on sports were poured into textbooks and chalk. (Yes, chalk!) I cringe every time I think about the new high school that was built near us. Football field, baseball field, track field, and tennis courts. Plus enough paved parking to accomodate the crowds. Oh, don't forget basketball. Yet, the local Board of Education claims it doesn't have enough money to put basic supplies in the classrooms. And, heaven forbid that anything reflecting Christian beliefs makes its way into those classrooms.

Just think how much better this world would be if parents spent those parade/sports watching hours teaching their children instead. Ethics, honesty, morality, love of Jesus Christ and to love their neighbors......

Just think how much better this world would be if people who don't have children would spend the time volunteering at church or in some other capacity to help others. Elderly neighbor need a wheel chair ramp or just a hug and a warm fresh baked loaf of bread?

Guess I am indeed an oddball, since I just got on a rant about what I see and don't see around me.

In any event, regardless of your viewpoint, I hope you have a Blessed New Year.

 

Are you willing to stake your life on such a hypothetical statement?

 

Just think how much better educated our children would be if all the dollars & emphasis on sports were poured into textbooks and chalk. (Yes, chalk!) I cringe every time I think about the new high school that was built near us. Football field, baseball field, track field, and tennis courts. Plus enough paved parking to accomodate the crowds. Oh, don't forget basketball. Yet, the local Board of Education claims it doesn't have enough money to put basic supplies in the classrooms. And, heaven forbid that anything reflecting Christian beliefs makes its way into those classrooms.

I spent 30+ yrs in the classroom, I was never a coach. For years I saw schools hire coaches first and their teaching ability second. Most coaches in Texas don't want to be in the classroom. They do anything they can to either get into P.E. full-time or in most cases, into administration.
Look, ask most Texas high school students if they learned anything in coaches' class, and they'll reply "No."

 

Why would I stake my life on something as silly as the intentions of the Rose Parade people?

 

I've never understood the attraction to parades. Like Oldtimer said, when I was kid that's all you could watch on holidays. So now, I couldn't give two hoots for a parade. Guess I'm getting old and would rather do other things. (Like Baptist Board :laugh

 

I've never watched parades. They don't appeal to me.

Football however....well that's entirely different...

 

Couldn't watch it because of where I am, so have no way of judging whether it is a "wholesome family show".