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Now that the holidays are over, we have time to reflect and ask ourselves the biggest question of all. Why parade downtown with roses on horse-drawn carriages, and later, dress-up motorized vehicles with incredible floral and seed arrangements?
Answer: Because, we can. Or, better put, because they can’t!
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In 1889, Professor C. F. Holder addressed his fellow Valley Hunt Club members: “In New York, people are buried in snow. Here our flowers are blooming and our oranges are about to bear. Let’s have a festival and tell the world about our paradise.” Dr. Francis F. Rowland (pictured above) agreed with the idea and offered the name The Battle of Roses for the new festival.
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On January 1st 1890 the festival was a resounding success with over half the Pasadena’s 4,882 residents attending. The following year the tournament event was renamed Tournament of Roses.
For a time, South Pasadena had three floats in the Rose Parade: The Raymond, Cawston Ostrich Farm, and City of South Pasadena.
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And to this day, the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game are the grandest in-your-face events of the year.
Throwback Thursday is written and produced by Rick Thomas