January 1: First Rose Parade in Pasadena in 1890

The Tournament of Roses Parade began January 1, 1890 when Pasadena settlers wanted to prove that California had perfect winter weather while the East Coast froze. Today, over 70 million people worldwide watch volunteers spend 80,000 hours covering massive floats with 18 million real flowers, creating the most elaborate New Year tradition in America.

Why California Settlers Started a Winter Flower Parade

In 1890, members of Pasadena's Valley Hunt Club wanted to showcase California's sunny January weather to freezing East Coast friends and family. They organized a parade of horse drawn carriages decorated with flowers followed by foot races and tug of war competitions. About 2,000 people attended the first event, marveling at blooming roses in the middle of winter.

The Strict Rule That Every Inch Must Be Flowers

The parade's defining rule requires every visible surface of each float to be covered in natural materials like flower petals, seeds, bark, leaves, and grasses. No painted surfaces are allowed. Volunteers work through New Year's Eve night applying the final flowers because blooms must look fresh for television cameras. This creates the signature look that sets the Rose Parade apart from all other parades.

How Volunteers Spend a Year Building Each Float

Float construction begins immediately after the previous parade ends. Designers sketch concepts, welders build steel frames, and volunteers sculpt chicken wire forms. Starting in late December, thousands of volunteers called petal pushers work around the clock gluing individual flower petals, rice grains, and crushed walnut shells onto floats. The largest floats require 100,000 flowers and weigh 50 tons.

Why the Rose Bowl Game Joined the Celebration

The first Rose Bowl football game happened January 1, 1902 because parade organizers wanted to add an exciting finale to the festivities. Michigan defeated Stanford 49 to 0 in such a lopsided game that organizers replaced football with chariot races for the next 14 years. Football returned in 1916 and the Rose Bowl became college football's most prestigious game.

The Tradition That Draws 700,000 People to Camp Overnight

Families camp overnight on Colorado Boulevard to claim prime viewing spots for the 5.5 mile parade route. People arrive with sleeping bags, lawn chairs, and tarps days before January 1. The parade starts at 8 AM Pacific time so East Coast viewers can watch during their New Year's Day brunch, making it a national morning tradition.

How a California Parade Became a Global New Year Icon

Television broadcasts starting in 1947 transformed the parade from a local event into a global phenomenon. The combination of massive flower covered floats, marching bands from around the world, and sunny California weather on New Year's Day captured imaginations worldwide. Over 70 million viewers in 200 countries now watch, making it one of the most viewed annual events and cementing January 1 as the day to celebrate with flowers and optimism.