The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade ®
The first time I have beheld the Rose Parade was about eight years ago. I have of course heard of this colorful first-day-of-the-year parade many years before. And I have seen it on television many times in the past. But you see, I grew up in a part of the world where there was no snow and trees do not shed leaves in the autumn time. We have flowers and buzzing insects year-round. And because they have always been there, I have taken them for granted. Not even giving a second look at the different hues of the abundant plant life all around me–the foliage and flora.
Now living in Southern California for close to a decade, I have been upgraded to a locale with the colors of four different seasons. But I still live without blizzards, snowflakes, hail, sleet and ice. Although still, I take for granted the familiar things that I enjoy–such as the sun, the sand and the surf, including the fresh fruits and flowers. Now, because not very many areas in the American Mainland are privileged to have all these in the winter time, it does make sense to showcase these SoCal blessings. And what better way than to have a parade marching down streets not buried under blankets of snow with bands and floats adorned with freshly picked flowers, plants, nuts and fruits at the First Day of the Year! And why not throw in or even top it off with a game of American football?
So once again on Monday January 2nd, 2012, the City of Pasadena of Sunny California will host the 123rd edition of the Rose Parade starting at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time. [Note: Organizers move the day of the celebrations to the 2nd day of the year, when the 1st falls on a Sunday]
The Rose Bowl – The Grand Daddy of Them All
On the same day, the 2012 Rose Bowl will be played at the Stadium with the same name, near where the very first game was played way back in 1902. My grand daddy went to Michigan State (then known as MAC) and although it was their arch-rivals, Michigan U who played and won the very first Rose Bowl, every time the start of the year comes, I still get excited to know who would get to play in the oldest bowl game of them all. Since 1945 this has been the highest attended college football bowl game. This year, the title is up for grabs between the Big-10 Conference champs, the Wisconsin Badgers and the No. 5 BCS ranked Oregon Ducks, the Pac-12 Conference champions.
This will be the 98th Rose Bowl Game and it will start at 2:00 p.m. PST. The organizers will dedicate the game in honor of wounded military personnel and they have decided late in 2011 that the coin toss honors will be awarded to Grand Marshal J. R. Martinez — retired (wounded in combat) serviceman, actor and newly crowned Dancing with the Stars Champ.
Occupy The Rose Parade
Now true to the ever changing times and the adjustments to this long standing and most beloved celebration, a new development could give a totally different color and drama to the New Year’s Day Parade. And this is because local protestors have vowed to bring in 40,000 supporters of the Occupy Movement representing the 99% to form a “human float” and to “occupy” the Rose Parade. They intend to bring the original OWS protest action to the attention of the thousands of people who are estimated to line the parade route, to the many thousands who will visit the City of Pasadena to watch the Bowl game and participate in the festivities and to the millions of viewers worldwide who are expected to watch the parade.
The Occupy Pasadena Group have already said that these protesters are not affiliated with them and that local peace keepers, city officials and event organizers are fully aware of this.
Now because the organizers do allow curbside “camping” along the parade route starting the day before the parade, all the occupiers need to do is to do what they do best. But of course they would need to leave their tents behind as only chairs and blankets are allowed.
Change — The Only Thing That is Constant
Now although there has been some clamor to change the long standing tradition of moving the Parade and the Bowl game to January 2nd instead of the first day of the year (like in 2012) when January the first falls on a Sunday, that appeal is still to be acted upon.
In previous generations of course, the American people do go to church on Sundays and this tradition is a logical one. But because more and more people through the years have stopped going to church, there has been more and more requests for a change-up.
And I might not be surprised to see this “change” happen in our lifetime. It will not be far-fetched, considering the only constant is change. And we have seen it through the years and just with the Rose Parade celebrations, such as changes in how the competing teams are selected, changes in the venue of the games, and even the changing of the official name from the Rose Bowl to the Rose Bowl Game Presented by … so and so sponsor.
But the one thing that will never ever change is the original intent of these celebrations and no one can hijack that. In the words of one of the originators of this event back in the winter of 1890, Professor Charles F. Holder: “In New York, people are buried in snow. Here our flowers are blooming and our oranges are about to bear. Let’s hold a festival to tell the world about our paradise.” (the”Mediterranean of the West”).
And I do hope that this paradise can extend for many more years, especially now that I do live here. Happy New Year to one and all!
Sources:
Occupy Pasadena
History of the Tournament of Roses Association
History of the Rose Parade
History of the Rose Bowl Game
Rose Parade News