The coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on every segment of society. Between sports, schools, celebrations and so many other things, COVID-19 has forced traditional experiences to undergo substantial change or even cease to exist. This trend of cancellations and changes to traditions is disheartening, though there is hope as some companies intend to continue their traditions, albeit “reimagined”.

One such company is Macy’s. Macy’s is known for its fireworks celebrations for the fourth of July, but most notably for its Thanksgiving Day parade. The Thanksgiving Day parade has been enjoyed by viewers for the past 90 years and is known for its amazing floats, star studded performer list, and holiday spirit. Many were skeptical that the parade would be cancelled this year due to coronavirus, however, Macy’s is dedicated to still bringing out holiday spirit. In a statement, a representative from Macy’s announced: “For more than 90 years, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® has kicked off the holiday season with its signature entertainment spectacle, making it one of the world’s most beloved events.” It continues: “Following our successful, safe and innovative production of Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks®, it is our intention to similarly reimagine Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this November.”

The mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, expressed that he hopes celebrations can go on, but adds that they must adhere to social distancing guidelines and will likely look very different from how they traditionally looked. While it is unfortunate that events such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade are going to be drastically different, it is still reassuring that a semblance of the tradition is kept alive.

Another one of the Big Apple’s famed holiday events will also be reimagined. The famed Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony will still occur, but in a very different way. The decision to continue to host traditional New York events, but with CDC guidelines in mind stems from concerns that large gatherings of people will only lead to another outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

Overall, New Yorkers can expect their beloved traditions to continue, but they must be willing to accept that their traditions will have to adhere to new standards in order to occur. The changes made to these events are indicative of the changing times the world is going through. Coronavirus is a serious threat that must be mitigated in order to return to normalcy.