Parade floats first appeared in the United States in the early 1800s; they became mainstays by the mid-century when, in 1857, New Orleans held its inaugural Mardi Gras parade. This marked the first-time floats were used to celebrate the annual holiday. ANSI E1.57-2016(R2021): Recommendations To Prevent Falls On Or Off Movable Parade Floats, Movable Stages, And Similar Moving Platforms covers guidelines for fall protection on parade floats.
History of Parade Floats
Parade floats are large, elaborately decorative pieces that are often self-propelled or towed in a parade procession. The first reference to any vehicle resembling a parade float can be traced back to ancient Greece in about 500 B.C. when a statue of the god Dionysius was carried from his temple in a “festival car” pulled by two men. Designed to gain favor from both the god and the drama critics, this procession was part of the opening ceremonies for a stage drama.
Parade floats became increasingly popular in the Middle Ages. They were often used in plays or to celebrate kings and rules. During this time, churches used pageant wagons: movable stages or wagons to accommodate the mystery and miracle religious play cycles of the 10th through the 16th century. Pageant wagons were used as movable scenery for passion plays, and craftsmen with artisan/craft guilds (e.g., hatters, blacksmiths, shoemakers, carpenters, etc.) built pageant wagons for their specified craft. The wagons were pulled throughout the town, most notably during Corpus Christi (the festival of the Roman Catholic Church in honor of the real presence of the body of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist), in which up to 48 wagons were used, one for each play in the Corpus Christi cycle.
Why Is It Called a Parade “Float?”
The term “float” was first used to describe a decorated barge: a long, flat-bottomed inland waterway boat that does not have its own means of mechanical propulsion. Barges (appearing as floating “houses”) largely functioned as transportation vessels, carrying people and goods during the Middle Ages. Moreover, the first use of the word “float” was to describe a barge on the River Thames for the Lord Mayor’s Show, which is a London tradition that marks the beginning of a new mayoral year.
These floats were towed along canals by ropes, as bystanders watched from the shoreline. At tine, concealed oarsmen would propel the floats from within. This practice, however, became abandoned because the lightweight, unstable frames would often capsize, resulting in many drownings. As such, there were ceremonies to honor parade oarsmen who had recently drowned; these ceremonies marked one of the first uses of grounded floats, which were towed by horses.
What Is ANSI E1.57?
ANSI E1.57-2016 (R2021) offers recommendations to prevent falls by anyone (e.g., performers, technicians, politicians) on parade floats, movable stages, and similar moving platforms. A float is referred to as “any powered or non-powered rolling vehicle, wagon, sled, performance platform, towed equipment, push units or other rolling stock used in entertainment for parade purposes.” This American National Standard provides guidance on how to preserve the artistic intent of the moving float or platform while also assuring measures for fall protection.
It establishes minimum levels and measures needed to prevent falls on or off movable parade floats, movable stages, and similar moving platforms utilized in a parade environment. ANSI E1.57-2016 (R2021) also provides guidance on barriers, hand-holds, and/or positioning methods that may be utilized as mitigations in the prevention of falls.
Popular Parades in the United States
Parades are a big draw to the United States today, celebrating many American traditions.
- Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade: an annual parade in New York City presented by the U.S.-based department store chain Macy’s that started in 1924. It provides quality entertainment while also brining children and families together on a cherished American holiday, Thanksgiving.
- Mardi Gras: French for “Fat Tuesday” and refers to custom of the last night of consuming rich, fatty foods in the home before Lent. The parade takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana, celebrating the Carnival season, which is a time of celebration before Lent.
- Rose Bowl (the Tournament of Roses) Parade: a New Year’s Day tradition that takes place in Pasadena, California and is both a parade and a football game. It started in 1890 and features marching bands, equestrian pageants, and notably colorful and handmade flowered floats.
- Pride Day Parade: an annual event celebrating the LGBTQ community. On June 28, 1970, on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, the first Pride marches were held in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. The parade often features floats, dancers, drag queens, music, and political and educational contingents (e.g., local politicians and marching groups from LGBTQ institutions and advocates).
- St. Patrick’s Day parades: annual parades organized by a city’s Irish Community to honor Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland. People of all backgrounds attend the parades wearing green clothing, and they also celebrate Irish culture and heritage.
- Fourth of July parades: annual parades that honor the history and nationhood of America. Independence Day commemorates the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
ANSI E1.57-2016(R2021): Recommendations To Prevent Falls On Or Off Movable Parade Floats, Movable Stages, And Similar Moving Platforms is available on the ANSI Webstore.