Interesting Ways Popular Events Used To Be Different

Turns out we haven't actually always done it this way.
Interesting Ways Popular Events Used To Be Different

Cracked pays people to make smart memes. Visit the Photoplasty and Pictofacts Workshop to get in on it.

There are a ton of events that seem to have been around forever, that have always played out in the same, traditional way. But the thing is, that's a collective cognitive myth. Celebrations and events are constantly changing, and have morphed in surprising ways, surprisingly recently.

For example:

Macy’s

The first Macy's Thanks- giving Day Parade in 1924 featured animals loaned from the Central Park Zoo, such as monkeys, elephants, and bears. PARADE CH

Each Fact As Good As The Last!

At the first Super Bowl, the halftime entertainment was a marching band. SUPER BOWL CRACKED CON
The Olympics used to award medals for the arts. From 1912-1948, 151 medals were awarded for sports-themed architecture, literature, music, painting, a

Each Fact As Good As The Last!

CRACKED ON ACTIVISTS ALLIANCE HRIST OTOFET PRIDE DAY GAY LIBERATION 1970 In the first ever Pride march, the police had their backs turned to the para
In the earliest Miss America pageants, the judges were all artists. LLALABAMA ABUZONE FLORID This inclhuded, in 1923, Norman Rockwell. CRACKEIDCON

Cyclist Smokers

It used to be normal for cyclists to smoke during the Tour de France.
Christmas wasn't recognized as a national holiday in America until 1850. In fact, Colonial America didn't care much about Christmas at all.

Indy 500

Interesting Ways Popular Events Used To Be Different
For centuries, people celebrated St. Patrick's Day in Ireland with church services. They started holding big parades only in the late 20th century. (T
CRACKEDOON The Daytona 500 was originally a beach-sic event. In February 1948 the first NASCAR-Sanctioned stock car race was held on the Old Daytona B
C Live pigeon shooting was a one-time Olympic event, featured at the 1900 games in Paris. Around 300 pigeons were released that day, and 21 were shot
GRAGT The first World Cup was such a low -stakes event that it almost didn't happen. European footballers weren't paid enough that they could afford t
Burning Man used to be held on a beach next to the Golden Gate Bridge. They moved it to the desert when the crowds got so big that the police started

Each Fact As Good As The Last!

VARSITY GAMES used to have all=male cheerleading teams. CRHUN ALTHough allowed to participate since the 20s, women were uncommon on squads until the

The First Oscars

The First Oscar Awards Ceremony Lasted 15 Minutes. The event had 270 guests and handed out 12 awards. The 2019 ceremony was three hours and 23 minutes

Ancient Rome

CRACKEDco Ancient Romans were the first civilization to have birthday parties for non-religioust figures. They even had a special cake for it! There w
The 1892 Kentucky Derby featured only 3 horses, down from 4 the year before. 28 R CRACKEDDOON NO one won the superfecta.

Each Fact As Good As The Last!

Until 1890, it was impossible to keep your vote a secret in US elections. US elections were hugely public events and entertained large crowds who watc

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest didn't start out as a huge beer festival in Munich. It started out as a royal wedding between Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese in 1870.
CRACK Rio Carnivals had no Samba performances until 1917. Brazil was a strict Catholic country which forbade other religious traditions, including Afr

New Year’s

Before 1904, New Year's Eve was barely even noticed, let alone a gigantic drunken party. In 1904, the New York Times built a new HQ at the site that w
Scroll down for the next article

Must Read

VIRAL ON CRACKED

A WEEKLY
NEWSLETTER OF
JOKES + TRIVIA

Forgot Password?