~ Stop and Smell the Roses ~

• posted by: Cheryl
• posted in: Uncategorized
• on: December 28, 2006

On Monday, January 1, 2007 at 8 a.m. millions of spectators from around the world will celebrate the New Year with the 118th Rose Parade.  The theme
this year is Our Good Nature.  For thousands of Californians the viewing of the Rose Parade in person is a tradition.  With entries from around the world, beautiful floats made of hundreds of different flowers and celebrities in the midst, it’s a fun event that is sure to bring smiles.

The first Tournament of Roses was created by former residents of the East and Midwest to share of their newfound home in California.  “In New York, people are buried in snow,” announced Professor Charles F. Holder (Pasadena Valley Hunt Club Member), “Here our flowers are blooming and our oranges are about to bear. Let’s hold a festival to tell the world about our paradise.”  This was the beginning of a great tradition.  Marching bands, equestrian
groups, and floats were added in the years to come.  Nicknamed “The Granddaddy of Them All”, the Rose Parade Game has been a sellout crowd every year since 1947 (rain or shine).  The Grand Marshal this year of the parade is George Lucas.
In 1902, the Tournament of Roses made the decision to add to the festivities by adding a football game which was also the first post season college football game ever held. The University of Michigan invited Standford University . . . Standford was losing 49-0 in the third quarter and gave up. The festivities created a Roman-style spirit of games and in 1916 the games were here to stay . . . thus the Rose Bowl.

This year I’ll have the blessing of attending the Rose Bowl to see my cousin play football.  Go Sam and Go USC!
A tradition that many Californians and those visiting from out of state have is visiting the float barns located across from the Rose Bowl.  Flowers begin arriving a couple of weeks before Christmas and individuals work on the floats from then until Parade Day.  It’s fun visiting the warehouses stocked full of a huge variety of different
flowers from all over the world and getting a sneak peak at some of the coolest floats around with their high tech computerized animation (some have even carried roller coasters).  

For you Southern Californians or those traveling to the area for the holidays, the following is a schedule of float viewing;
December 28-29, 2005 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

December 30-31st from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. 

The cost ~ $5 and well worth it. 

For more information you can call;
Ph: (626) 449-4100
Fax: (626) 449-9066
or E-mail: rosepr@rosemail.org
During this busy season I’m trying to remember the importance of documenting and scrapping traditions.  So I’m going to try and make it a point to “Stop
and Smell the Roses”.  Whether you volunteer to work on decorating a float, go for a visit, view the parade on television or however you ring in the New Year I hope that it is a blessed and happy one for each of you.  Here’s to another fun Fiskateer year!

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