The Tournament of Roses Parade

Here is a link to the official website for the Tournament of Roses Parade. This year, the parade will be held on Monday, January 2. When I first saw this, I was sure someone had made a mistake, but January 2 is the correct date. I found out that there is a Never on Sunday tradition that dates back to the earliest days of the Parade.

The theme of the 117th Rose Parade is It's Magical. You can expect to see marching bands from across America, high-stepping equestrian units, and the beautiful floral floats that the Tournament is known for.

The Parade Parade starts at 8:00 am (PST) and is 2.5 hours long. The 5.5 mile route starts at Ellis Street and Orange Grove. If you are interested, the parade route continues north on Orange Grove, turns east on Colorado Blvd., then turns north on Sierra Madre and ends at Paloma Street.

In 1890, Valley Hunt Club members Dr. Francis Rowland and Prof. Charles Holder decided to celebrate California's mild winter and created a floral festival patterned after the "Battle of the Flowers in Nice, France. Originally, it was a modest procession of flower-covered carriages with games such as foot races, tug-of-war contests, and sack races in the afternoon and evolved over the years into the spectacular we see today.

Millions of people watch the Rose Parade on TV, including approximately 40 million Americans as well as viewers in 89 countries and territories around the world. The Pasedena Police Department estimates that approximately one million people attend the Parade every year. In addition, 80,000 people visited the Post Parade Float Viewing in the 2½ days following the Rose Parade.

The "Never on Sunday" tradition stems from an 1893 decision to avoid frightening horses tethered outside local churches and interferring with worship services. Only nine times in Parade history has it rained on New Years Day leading some some to ask whether Tournament officials had made a "special pact" with a "Friend Upstairs." Other collegiate bowl organizations have instituted similar policies to not have festivities on Sunday.

There are 935 active volunteers known as "white-suiters" who are members of 32 committees. The members spend more than 80,000 hours planing and executing the Tournament of Roses. Members live or work within a 15 mile radius of Pasadena City Hal and must be willing to devote the necessary time and energy to the Parade. The volunteers are responsible for a wide range of events and activities from selecting the Parade's participants, and directing visitors on the day of the Parade, to serving hamburgers to band members at the end of the Parade route and giving presentations to community groups about the Tournament.

In 2005, the Tournament was responsible for $370.3 million in total economic impact to Southern California.

The Rose Queen® and Rose Princesses have presided over the annual celebration each year since 1930. They serve as goodwill ambassadors for the Tournament of Roses Association by making social and media appearances. Hundreds of local young women, 17-21, participate every September in the selection process to become a member of the Royal Court. They are evaluated on a number of qualities including academic achievement, community involvment, public speaking ability, and, of course, poise.

A Traditional duty of the president of the Tournament is naming the Parade's Grand Marshall. Past Grand Marshalls have included actors, astronauts, writers, artists, athletes, and political figures. Dwight Eisenhower, Bob Hope, Kate Smith, Mary Pickford, Bob Newhart, Walt Disney, Shirley Temple Black, Angela Lansbury, Tom Brokaw and Bill Cosby are among those who have been so honored. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has been named Grand Marshall for 2006.

The Rose Bowl Game will host the National Championship Game between the University of Southern California Trojans and the University of Texas Longhorns. The Bowl Game will be played in Pasadena on Wednesday, January 4 and will be broadcase live on ABC beginning at 5:00 pm PST.